Tumeladi Diagnostic Pathologists
What does your company do?
We are a Histopathology laboratory that is owned by Dr Mbatha who is a histopathologist herself. The laboratory has increased its testing profile and is now also doing hematology, chemistry, virology and microbiology in less than two years of its existence.
What is your biggest success?
I have managed to break into a monopoly of major 3 laboratories. We currently have supporters in Mediclinic and we have built a physical lab just outside the hospital and we are rendering services for ICU patients and specialist doctors. We are in the process of signing SLA's with other branches of Mediclinic namely Newcastle. The interest and demand has grown significantly and we are now part of the Johannesburg breast specialist unit based in Busamed Modderfontein as the pathologist of choice. Earlier this we won the Standard Bank ED programme which was a pleasant exercise for a first time enterpreneur.
I took R50 000 of my personal funds and converted it into R9 million rand in less than two years. This I did alone with little hours of sleep. Now the lab at the Vaal runs itself with dedicated staff.
What has been your biggest hurdle?
Breaking into a monopoly with no financial support or funding. Currently, our demand exceeds our capacity and we are in the process of expansion and we need funding.
Access to market is still an ongoing issue.
