India’s top diagnostics lab by revenue, Dr Lal PathLabs, which has a market capitalisation of around ₹23,453.37 crore and whose shares have declined close to 8% over the past year, has announced its entry into the preventive healthcare space with the launch of a new healthcare and wellness centre named ‘Sovaaka’. The first centre, set up in Gurugram with an initial investment of over ₹15 crore, will open on January 11. The company described the initiative as a “diagnostic-led wellness model” aimed at shifting the focus from treating illness to proactively maintaining wellness.Arvind Lal, Executive Chairman of Dr Lal PathLabs, explained the philosophy behind the new brand. “’Sovaaka’ in Sanskrit means well-being. The idea is that you see us in wellness so that you don’t step into illness,” he said. He emphasised that the centre is designed to be a holistic destination where people can consult with doctors even when they are healthy to prolong their well-being.The ‘Sovaaka’ centre will offer a comprehensive suite of services, moving beyond standard blood tests. Lal detailed that it will be a highly advanced blood diagnostics facility offering routine tests as well as specialised markers for cancer, vitamins, and autoimmune conditions. A key feature will be the integration of high-quality, low-dose imaging technology to minimise radiation exposure for patients. Services will include personalised doctor consultations, nutritional guidance from experienced dietitians, and extensive early cancer screening across 22 organs. Cardiovascular risk evaluation will also be a major component, with tests like CT angiography, calcium scoring, advanced lipid profiles, and electrocardiograms (ECGs) being made available.
Shankha Banerjee, CEO of Dr Lal PathLabs, described the launch as the company’s “first big foray into the wellness segment.” He differentiated the new offering from the company’s existing ‘Swasthfit’ package, stating, “Swasthfit is a bundled package of pathology tests only. This will be a very comprehensive thing, including imaging and pathology testing.”Also Read: Dr Lal PathLabs expects FY26 margins at 27-28%, sees strong growth in Swasthfit portfolio
Banerjee elaborated on the strategic rationale, highlighting a concerning trend. “We’ve kind of started observing that people are getting serious diseases quite early in life… the lifestyle conditions are changing,” he said, pointing to stress and poor sleeping habits. “Here, it’s more of a play where we feel that preventive testing needs to happen, where people should get control of what they are doing.”Regarding the financial aspect, Banerjee confirmed an investment of upwards of ₹15 crore for the Gurugram centre. He clarified that the company is not focused on immediate returns. “The return profile is not something we are looking at as a very immediate thing, but more as a part of our overall offering. I think this is very important for our portfolio,” he explained.Also Read: Dr Lal PathLabs eyes southern expansion, evaluates acquisition opportunitiesOn future expansion, Banerjee acknowledged the immense scope across India’s major cities and metros. However, he stressed that the immediate priority is to ensure the successful operation of the first centre. “Right now, our focus is to ensure that this centre is run well. I think the message gets percolated and subsequently we’ll work out our expansion plans,” he added.For the entire discussion, watch the accompanying videoCatch all the latest updates from the stock market here
