The health minister recently gave the directive at the two-day 22nd National Convention of the Pathological Society of Bangladesh.

The main objective of such lab will be to conduct quality control over the country's diagnostic centres. It will also train pathologists.

City dwellers allege that the city's pathological labs have become a threat to their health. Wrong diagnosis, variation in pathological test rates, illegal commission from path labs, lack of proper equipment and finally non-acceptance of health certificates in foreign countries are some complaints.

"A visit to seven to eight labs around Dhaka showed that fasting blood sugar test ranged from Tk 78-102 while urine culture and sensitivity test cost anything between Tk 203-317," said Kamal Ahmed, a patient referring to a diagnostic centre on Elephant Road.

A senior doctor from the pathology department of a medical college said: "Most of complaints are true. Some doctors insist on patients going to a specific lab for tests because it allows him to earn a monthly commission."

"Even if the patient requires just one or two tests, the doctor prescribes a range of unnecessary tests to be done as well. This is quite a normal procedure," he added.

Prof Shah Monir Hossain, a senior committee member of the Pathological Society, explained that for the last 10 years or so they had been demanding a reference lab. But only now the government has decided to set one up.

"The project needs to be approved by the Health ministry's planning division and Director General of Health services. "