Dear PAO,

My college friend has been operating a private diagnostic laboratory in their province for years. He told me recently about his concern involving another entrepreneur in their area who is planning to construct and operate a similar laboratory but without the necessary medical licenses since they claim to have already a mayor's permit from a different business venture. My friend is worried that aside from having a competitor, the operation of a new unlicensed clinical laboratory may harm the public. Because of this, we want to know if a diagnostic laboratory can operate with just a mayor's permit. This seems unfair to my friend, who complied with the different requirements for the operation of his diagnostic laboratory. I hope your office can advise us on this.