Aster Labs introduces US FDA approved digital pathology solution

New Delhi: As the incidences of chronic and complex diseases such as cancer have been on the rise in recent years, the need and demand to revamp the pathology industry in the country is now being realized more than ever before.

Aster Labs, the diagnostics arm of Aster DM Healthcare, a leading healthcare service provider in the country, has introduced US FDA approved digital pathology solution by Philips Intellisite Pathology Solutions for primary diagnosis at its state of the art reference lab located at Queens Road in Bangalore and at Aster Medcity in Kochi. With the inclusion of this cutting-edge technology, Aster Labs is looking to completely digitize its histopathology workflow and will be taking a step towards building a networked pathology system in the country. The decision to implement digital pathology solutions at its centers is an important milestone for the brand as it further strengthens its commitment towards making world-class diagnostics accessible to every Indian.

Speaking on this initiative, Dr Harish Pillai, CEO, Aster Hospitals and Clinics, India, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact across industries and healthcare in particular. Currently, every aspect of the industry from diagnosis to treatment is undergoing tremendous change. This has created an urgency in the healthcare industry, to look for innovative solutions and efficient application of technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning. Pathology is one such area that stands to greatly benefit from the inclusion of disruptive technologies. Therefore, with Digital pathology, we are taking a step towards the future on a digital cockpit that will enable precision diagnostics at Aster Labs. Our ultimate clinical objective with digitization is to ensure the right patient case reaches the right subspecialty histopathologist all the time, at the fastest possible time.”

Along with the implementation of digital pathology solutions across all its centers, Aster Labs also plans to build a value-based pool of talent of general histopathologists and aims to become a CoE (Centre of Excellence) for subspecialty FTR (First Time Right) reporting and other advanced subspecialties like transplant pathology, dermatopathology, neuropathology, and renal pathology.