Dr. Jagpal Singh Suri
Dr. Jagpal Singh Suri, MBBS, MD (Pathology, AIIMS), Senior Consultant Pathologist and Managing Director of Dr. Suri Lab Pvt. Ltd., is a distinguished medical professional with decades of leadership and expertise in diagnostics. He was interviewed by Dr. Soumya Singh, Creative Editor of InnoHEALTH Magazine, on the evolution, ethics, challenges, and innovations in diagnostics.
What originally inspired you to start a diagnostic lab back in 1980, and what was the healthcare landscape like at the time?
In 1980 when I started my lab, I felt scope and urgent need for a clinical laboratory. It was the right time and opportunity to open a lab. I had 13 years’ experience post MBBS, and 10 years in pathology and laboratory medicine. My decision to open the lab was against the prevalent trend. The people after MD Pathology moved to the USA or stayed in medical colleges. But I saw a serious problem in getting lab tests done in any prescriptions. Patients used to plead against any blood tests.
Public Hospitals were the mainstay of healthcare of the time. There were hardly any stand-alone labs in Delhi. I felt the need for good labs to cater to the people of Delhi. I had worked in Hospital Labs for 7 years in Delhi and Iran and chose to start a lab.
How has the field of diagnostics evolved during your career, especially in terms of scientific rigor and patient safety?
I see a sea change in Labs. At that time all testing was manual, all laboratory ware was non-disposable. It was time consuming primitive technology. There was no IVD industry meaning no readymade reagent kits, no readymade calibrator, no automated equipment. Our equipment was a good microscope, Colorimeter or Spectrophotometer, Centrifuge, oven and incubator etc with glassware, pipettes etc. All reagents and calibrators were prepared in house in the labs from merk or Glaxo laboratory chemicals. There was no automation, no computers and no IT. The tests were short. Volume of blood for testing was many times more than today.
What innovations in pathology or lab testing In India, access to quality diagnostics can be uneven. What can be done to ensure more people—especially in rural or underserved areas—get reliable testing?
Inequity in healthcare and laboratory medicine is glaring in rural and remote areas. We need to address the inequity at the national and state levels as health is declared as a fundamental right. Laboratory medicine costs 1.4 to 2.6 % of total healthcare globally and contributes to 70 % of decision making. So we cannot say Lab testing is expensive and unaffordable. I believe that laboratory medicine is value for money and contributes greatly to eliminating inequity and improving quality of healthcare with much less investments. We have accepted essential diagnostic lists. Implementation of EDL will improve our healthcare significantly.
As a diagnostic expert, how do you balance high-tech innovation with affordability for the average patient?
High tech innovations over the years have improved quality of testing, TAT, turnaround time of testing, ease of operation, scaling up of testing, and even reduced the cost of testing meaning easy affordability.
High-tech innovation in laboratory medicine like automation and high-throughput systems reduce labour costs and improve efficiency, lowering the cost per test for high-volume labs.
Point-of-care and portable diagnostic devices can also reduce expenses by minimizing the need for centralized facilities.
For example, rapid PCR tests and microfluidic devices have made some diagnostics faster and cheaper.
On the other hand, cutting-edge technologies like next-generation sequencing or specialized biomarker assays often come with high upfront costs for equipment, reagents, and skilled personnel, which can increase prices for patients, especially for complex or rare tests.
While innovations may reduce costs over time as they scale, affordability often lags due to initial investment and regulatory hurdles. In low-resource settings, access to these technologies remains limited, keeping costs high for advanced services.
Many patients feel overwhelmed by lab reports. What’s your advice to the public on understanding their test results and knowing when to follow up?
Every single report is important for patients. A normal report reassures a patient. Most of the abnormal reports help the patient and his doctor to have the timely corrective measures and improve health.
An issue of patient confidentiality needs to be kept in mind while divulging reports of patients to their relatives or known people.
During COVID-19, diagnostics became a household term. What permanent changes has the pandemic brought to the way labs operate or how people approach testing?
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven lasting changes in laboratory operations and testing approaches:
1.Increased Automation Labs.
2. Rapid Diagnostics: Point-of-care and at-home testing kits, like rapid antigen and PCR tests, became mainstream, fostering ongoing demand for quick, decentralized testing.
3. Telehealth Integration: Remote sample collection and virtual consultations for test results are now common, streamlining access and reducing in-person visits.
4. Public Awareness: People are more proactive about regular testing and health monitoring, increasing demand for preventive and home-based diagnostics.
5. Regulatory Flexibility: Faster approval processes for new tests and devices.
How do you approach trust and transparency when delivering difficult or sensitive results to patients?
To deliver difficult or sensitive results transparently while maintaining trust needs Clear Communication, Honesty, Empathy, Privacy and Follow-Up.
Can you share a moment from your work where the lab made a meaningful difference in someone’s life?
Clinical laboratories play a critical role in healthcare by providing accurate diagnostic information that can directly impact patient outcomes. We see lab tests reports making a meaningful difference in people’s life and health on a daily basis.
What ethical challenges do you think diagnostic labs face today, and how should professionals respond?
Ethical Challenges:
1. Data Privacy 2. Equity 3. Over-testing 4. Result Accuracy:
Professional Responses:
1. Strengthen Security. 2. Promote Access 3. Follow Guidelines. 4. Transparent Communications.
How do you ensure that your lab’s practices remain grounded in fairness, accuracy, and dignity for all patients?
To ensure fairness, accuracy, and dignity in lab practices: 1. Fairness: Implement equitable access policies, like sliding-scale fees, and train staff on cultural sensitivity. 2.Accuracy: Use validated protocols, regular equipment calibration, and peer reviews to maintain reliable results. 3.Dignity: Communicate results empathetically, ensure privacy, and involve patients in decision-making. Regular audits and adherence to ethical guidelines reinforce these principles.
