• Reveals plans to enter into retail pharmaceutical biz

The healthcare arm of Harry Jayawardena-controlled Melstacorp Group plans to perform real-time PCR (RT-PCR) tests with further plans to venture into retail pharmaceutical business.

“With the planned launch of its Molecular Biology department in 4Q 2020, Melsta Labs is gearing to perform real-time PCR (RT-PCR) testing. The RT-PCR method is the gold standard confirmatory test performed for many diseases, including COVID-19 and is frequently used in the identification of cancers to fine-tune treatment courses,” the latest annual report of Melstacorp PLC stated.

Melsta Labs comes under Melsta Health (Pvt.) Ltd, which is the holding company of Melstacorp’s healthcare business.

Melsta Laboratories, Sri Lanka’s biggest non-hospital-based chain of medical laboratories, was the newest venture under Melstacorp PLC. 

Melsta Labs has the capacity to cater to over 750 tests in house at present and with three regional laboratories established in Galle, Kurunegala and Kandy, as well as hospital-based laboratories at Melsta Hospitals Ragama and a lab at Joseph Fraser Memorial Hospital in Colombo. 

Melsta Labs launched Sri Lanka’s first smartphone app to view, store and download medical lab reports. It is currently working on to obtain industry-leading laboratory accreditations by next year.

Melstacorp also announced that plans are already drawn out to enter into the retail pharmaceutical business.

During last financial year, Melstacorp expanded its footprint in the healthcare industry with its acquisition of Browns Hospitals Ragama, which is now rebranded as Melsta Hospitals Ragama.