Babulal Marandi takes a glimpse of the equipment at the laboratory. Picture by Ashok Karan

Ranchi, Aug. 21: Gone are the days you need to visit the metros for a complicated pathological test.

The inauguration of a new pathological laboratory, Dr J. Sharan Memorial Diagnostic Lab, at Sainik bazar here today heralded a new era in the state, said Rakesh Sharan, the chief pathologist of the laboratory.

The laboratory is equipped with the latest facilities. ?For the first time in Jharkhand and Bihar facilities for oncopathology (read cancer) using flowcytometer (Beckman Coulter), PCR tests using Cobas Amplicor, molecular biology, immunohistrochemistry and more such tests are available,? he added.

For the first time also water testing has been made easy through this laboratory. ?All these tests, along with haematology, biochemistry, hormones, histopathology, and other regular test facilities are available at the newly-launched laboratory as well as the parent laboratory J Sharan Pathological Laboratory,? Vinita Sharan, administrator of the Sharan pathological laboratory group, said. She added these tests would cost less than what is being charged by pathological laboratories located in big cities.

With this new laboratory the third generation of late Dr. J. Sharan, founder of the department of pathology at the erstwhile Rajendra Medical College and Hospital (now RIMS), has entered the medical profession. Late Sharan?s grandsons Nishant and Nitin ? both pathologists ? today joined their father Rakesh Sharan in pursuing pathology as their vocation.

While inaugurating the new laboratory former chief minister and BJP national vice-president Babulal Marandi lauded the Sharans for providing the latest technology in medicare in the city.

Marandi urged the doctors ?to behave well with patients as a doctor?s behaviour is half the cure?. He narrated how he was tested by old and unused equipment at the RIMS and how some doctors came to a wrong diagnostic conclusion.

?In Delhi, I see many poor people from this state in hospitals there. That pains me because those poor people have to go there because the latest facilities are not available in their own state,? he said.Incidentally, Marandi had upgraded the RMCH to RIMS during his tenure. But with the end of his tenure as chief minister the RIMS has been floundering, a doctor said.