Pathology Tomorrow Future of Diagnostic and Pathology Space in India
2021 VOL. 03 ISSUE 08
Diagnostic Sphere Technological Trends in Global Diagnostic and Pathology Centers
THE BEST OF
DIAGNOSTIC AND PATHOLOGY CENTERS
PREMIER HEALTH CENTER Pradeep Chakravarthy Managing Director
At the Forefront of India’s Healthcare Revolution
Editor’s Note A
DIAGNOSTIC AND PATHOLOGY CENTERS TAKING GIANT STRIDES
ppropriate diagnosis and optimum treatment for better health or cure from diseases are corelated. A medical practitioner will be able to treat a patient of a particular ailment only when the medical diagnosis is perfect. Here is where the vital role of diagnostic and pathology centers come to the fore. Diagnostic and pathology centres are equipped with laboratories and qualified staff who are efficient in identifying diseases based on the symptoms that a patient has. A perfect diagnosis ensures optimal cure or relief from the ailment. These centers, therefore, cannot afford to go wrong or even leave an iota of doubt in the medical reports. If at all there is some doubt in certain complicated cases, the tests are performed again until the diagnosis seems perfect. The diagnostic and pathology centers and doctors/hospitals share a bond of trust, the onus of which lies on the centers by way of producing the accurate diagnosis. They also go on home visits to collect samples from patients for the necessary tests. Some of these centers have created a reputation for themselves in the field and are known for their trustworthiness, prompt, and quality diagnosis. A patient’s health and treatment largely rest on the
Sumita Sarkar Chief Editor
sumita@insightssuccess.com
diagnosis of these centers that shoulder the responsibilities amid all challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic has only added to their responsibilities and challenges. The pandemic has also changed the way these diagnostic and pathology centers function. In addition, the focus is also on understanding the pathology of the deadly virus. These centers with their high standards and precise testing, cutting edge technology, state-of the-art laboratories and qualified staff have stood the test of time - pandemic or no pandemic. They have always been in the pursuit of upgrading their services and raising the bar for themselves. From general pathology to specialised services like molecular, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), gene sequencing, cytogenetics, and FISH (Fluorescence in situ hybridization), haemotology and flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, surgical pathology, next generation sequencing and many more, the centers are providing unparalleled services. Advancements in diagnostic and pathology services have enhanced the treatment process with their accurate results and continuous research in the field.
These centers have made giant strides and there seems no stopping for them to progress continuously in their quest to provide the best. Technology has played a gigantic role in aiding diagnostic and pathology labs. Equipped with latest technologies, patients can now check their results online. With machine learning the probability of analysing autism earlier in the blood is also being probed. Besides, digital patient engagement is an up-andcoming solution in the country and many medical practitioners have already adopted it even prior to the pandemic. In fact, digital pathology could be the solution in the future if the pandemic prevails. Honouring the diligent services of this integral part of the medical fraternity, we at Insights Success have come up with our new edition – The Best of 5 Diagnostic and Pathology Centers. We are sure that it will give you lot of insight about their work and the latest in the field. Read on to discover more.
08 PREMIER HEALTH CENTER At the Forefront of India’s Healthcare Revolution
Cover Story
Articles Pathology Tomorrow
16
Future of Diagnostic and Pathology Space in India
Diagnostic Sphere
28
Technological Trends in Global Diagnostic and Pathology Centers
Contents Manglam Diagnostics
20
Delivering World-Class and Excellent Diagnostic Facilities
22
32
Oncquest Laboratories Ltd
Digitizing the Future of Lab Testing with Smart Technology
SRL Diagnostics
Redefining Diagnostics in a Dynamic Way
Editor-in-Chief Sumita Sarkar Managing Editor Darshan Parmar
sales@insightssuccess.com
Assisting Editor Ananda Kamal Das
MARCH, 2021
Contributing Writers Ashish, Renuka
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THE
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Company Name
Management
Brief
Manglam Diagnostics
Dr. Gulab Rai Gupta Chairman and Managing Director
Manglam Diagnostics is chain of diagnostic centres operating in Haryana region for more than 20 years.
Oncquest Laboratories Ltd
Mr Aditya C Burman, Dr Ravinder Deep Singh Sethi Director, COO
Oncquest Laboratories Ltd has a two-decade legacy of trust, and accuracy in pathology testing. A favourite amongst clinicians, specialty hospitals, and other path labs.
Premier Health Center
Pradeep Chakravarthy Managing Director
Premier Health Center, one of the pioneering diagnostic centers of Chennai offers diagnostic services with a brand new, cutting edge technology providing results of uncompromising quality in a transparent and customer focused manner.
SRL DIAGNOSTICS
Anand K. CEO
SRL is the largest Diagnostics Company in India having an impressive 'Reach', providing superior quality diagnostics services to its customers through a very efficient network of labs and collection points.
Health
S T O R Y C O V E R
Premier
Center
At the Forefront of India’s Healthcare Revolution
“
Our vision for the future is a disease free society through better diagnosis for cure and timely prevention through health screening.
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Pradeep Chakravarthy Managing Director
THE
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hrough the course of time, technology and healthcare have played pivotal roles aiding our survival and evolution. In testing times, like the current one which the entire world is struggling to endure, the conjunction of technology and healthcare has been deemed both necessary and profound.
This edition, The Best of 5 Diagnostic and Pathology Centres, brings into spotlight those healthcare service providers that have acknowledged, achieved, and adopted, this conjunction and are striving to deliver the best of their services. One prominent name among these healthcare service providers is Premier Health Center (PHC). Premier Health Center started out as a diagnostic facility over 40 years ago to become the largest private diagnostic centre. PHC provides pathology and radiology services to all private medical facilities, public hospitals, and community centres and also operates at a series of standalone hospitals across Chennai. PHC engages and attracts the finest healthcare professionals and integrates them across its different locations, giving it the advantage of having a world class team. PHC’s expanding team of skilled professionals aim to provide access to high quality, cost effective, best practice diagnostics 24/7, 365 days of the year. The company has a full complement of Radiologists, Pathologists, Medical Imaging Technologists, Lab Tech, Clinical Assistants and Support Staff. PHC offers diagnostic services with cutting edge technology providing results of uncompromising quality in a transparent and customer focused manner. The company is regarded as one of the finest diagnostic centres in the country. It has been recognized by
government and various hospitals for successful ventures and diagnostic services for over a decade. What was never compromised in all these achievements over the 40 years are the ethics and the original vision of providing the best in diagnostics at affordable prices. PHC’s head processing centre is spread across an 8,000sqft in area with two floors, Separate lounge dedicated for corporate and association clients. The lab is conveniently located in the heart of Chennai, well connected with the other 27 centres around the town through online reporting and is run by an efficient team of 220 technicians. PHC started with a mission to become most trusted and reliable healthcare service provider in Chennai. This today is reflected by the number of more than 2000+ foot falls that PHC has on daily basis. “Our vision for the future is a disease free society through better diagnosis for cure and timely prevention through health screening,” says Pradeep Chakravarthy, the Managing Director of Premier Health Center. “We are constantly looking for new ways to transform the lives of others using high end technology,” he adds. Under Proficient Leadership Amidst the stiff Industry competition, Pradeep Chakravarthy has positioned PHC in the healthcare map by providing quality medical technology. Ever since his humble beginning in 2000, he has been tirelessly working towards PHC’s consistent success and has established tie-ups with several medical establishments. As a result, PHC now stands as one of the finest diagnostic facility, catering over 28 locations across the Chennai. His vision is to make healthcare accessible and affordable to the Chennai population. His determination and futuristic approach enabled the
PATHOLOGY CENTERS
common man to access quality diagnosis, which were once unaffordable for the people of all classes. All of his corporate ventures are aligned with one goal – improving access and affordability of healthcare. In recognition of his outstanding leadership qualities, he was adjudged as the Pioneering Med-Tech Savant by Silicon India. Offering Only the Best PHC delivers a comprehensive set of services to cater to various needs of its customers. The company is constantly making consistent initiatives to widen the scope of its services. Below is the list of services offered by PHC: 3Lab Departments • Haematology • Biochemistry • Blood Serology • Immunology • Microbiology • Clinical Pathology • Histopathology • Molecular Biology 3Imaging Section • Computerized ECG • Digital X-Ray • Ultra-Sonogram • Echocardiogram • Mammogram 3Cardiac and Neuro • T.M.T • P.F.T • E.E.G 3Doppler Study 3Contrast Study 3Home Services • E.C.G • Portable X-Ray • Complete Blood Investigation
3Health Packages • Master Health Check • Child Health Check Up • Well Women Health Check Up • Premier Executive Health Check • Premier Senior Citizen Check Up • Pre-Marital Check Up • Pre-Employment Checks • Premier Home Care is a convenient, technology driven platform that serves as a one stop solution for patients of associated hospitals or healthcare service providers. It is a home collection for all lab services, offering patients the convenience of making their choice based on time, comfort, location, and turnaround time. Patients also enjoy the added luxury of getting their samples collected in the comforts of their home by a trained phlebotomist. Patients can arrange Premier Home Care service by calling our 24/7 patients care
“
We ensure that all staff have the necessary education and operating knowledge, so that the best process outcome can be achieved for our patients
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number and get info on specific test and profiles that need to be done. PHC shares all the relevant details, including price, quality and certifications, typical turnaround time etc. Patients can then choose the time of home care they would like to engage with. • Premier Health Center enables corporates through Health Screening Services. PHC’s consultants are able to customize packages according to the corporate company’s requirements to increase efficiency and quality of life. It creates tailor-made wellness packages for corporates for a minimum of 10 employees up to 1000 employees. This is inclusive of premium diagnostic services, a corporate level report for the Human Resources (HR) division that captures the health status of their employees, and also highlights special cases that may require immediate attention or supervision. PHC’s individual reports to employees detail their general wellness, including their physical, social, and mental wellbeing. Based on the reports, the company arranges for talks by industry experts to create awareness and counsel employees. With a wide array of corporate healthcare initiatives, PHC is committed to ensure staff remain in the pink of health for the
associated corporates’ enhanced productivity. In addition to its wellness programs, PHC also offers ECG, PFT and eye testing as an on-site service to corporates. PHC also offers health check-ups at schools/colleges where the focus is on conducting routine check-ups and record health issues specific to the needs of growing children. With a wide array of corporate healthcare initiatives, the company is committed to ensure students remain in the pink of health for future. Under the Hospital Lab Management (HLM) model, PHC sets-up clinical laboratories in newly established hospitals and manages ‘in-hospital’ clinical laboratories in existing hospitals, to conduct onsite testing as per the associated hospital’s requirements. Pursuant to the terms of our contractual agreements, the hospital typically provides space and access to its utilities and other infrastructure, and PHC provides the diagnostic equipment, and responsible for all costs relating to personnel, consumables, including purchase
“
PHC engages and attracts the finest healthcare professionals and integrates them across its different locations, giving it the advantage of having a world class team.
“
of equipment, training of manpower and other administrative responsibilities pertaining to the laboratory. Redefining Excellence In all aspects, PHC’s services are underpinned by its principles of quality: • To be the provider of choice for patients and health care providers, offering a patient-centred service, continuing to meet the demands of local and hospital based clinicians, healthcare partners, and patients. • To build on strengths of rapid access and result communication. • To utilise assets effectively, making the most of patient care environments, optimising the patient and referring doctor experience while simultaneously improving the access to availability of services. • To improve patient outcomes by giving immediate
access to diagnostic imaging services coupled with immediate effective result communication. • To maintain a culture of clinical best practice throughout the organisation, ensuring the personal and professional development of all team members PHC will continue to invest in state-of-the-art equipment, and ongoing staff training and professional development, to ensure its patients receive high-quality services and the best care. PHCs regularly reviews its equipment portfolio and discover latest equipment, in order to maintain its competitive edge. PHC’s future planning includes assessing and expanding its service locations to meet the needs of any expected population growth.
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Pathology Tomorrow
Future of
DIAGNOSTIC and PATHOLOGY
SPACE
in INDIA
16 | March 2021
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March 2021 | 17
athology lab and Diagnostic centers are the most significant backbones of the healthcare industry. With the rising standards in healthcare, the demand to reshape the equipment and trained professionals for the lab are also urging for more efficiency.
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Being the essence of the sector for more than 100 years, the innovative technology has accustomed with the adequate understanding and diagnosing the disease, helping pathology labs to have complete control over the entire procedure of diagnosis.
Even with the introduction of advanced technology in the field of diagnostics, such as instant sharing of images with high resolution, blood-drawing robots, synthetic tissues, augmented reality for diagnostic; the system of pathology lab still continues to work with the same techniques and equipment.
Widely used in teaching, digital pathology is now utilized by expert consultants as a tool in storing the slides. Usage of digital pathology is rapidly gaining pace for carrying out testing and diagnosis on daily basis with efficacy.
The old techniques of observing tissues with the medical institution where most of the process is conducted manually along with the equipment that has been in the lab for ages. The traditional method not only delays the workflow but also limits the professionals who need to be more efficient with modern technology and equipment. With the reducing numbers of professionals in the sphere of pathology, the demand to provide the end results for the diagnosis is increasing drastically and is pushing pathologists to work under pressure in order to move faster. The earlier process of diagnostic which involves a higher risk of loss while transferring the glass slides and collaborating with the professional in determining the results could find better ways to do the same. It is now required to equip the trained professionals with efficient, scalable, and advanced techniques that could assist and set them free from the heavy workflow. Compared to other countries, where pathology experts in their specified field have grown immeasurably, in India, we are still lagging behind when it comes to diagnosis of rare disease and organs. Therefore, to raise our healthcare industry from such a loss in terms of digital equipment and trained professionals, we need to collaborate with other countries to acquire a transparent mindset. As we are moving towards 2022, the enhancement of modern technology is mushrooming in the domain of healthcare, the process of scanning and analyzing slides which nearly takes half an hour for a pathologist is now replaced with artificial intelligence to assist with the result within few minutes. Today the medical industry is blessed with unbelievable technology in keeping the healthcare sector at the front. Digitization in pathology to ameliorate productivity and performance is transforming the conventional methods.
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Acceptance of the avant-grade equipment in the healthcare industry enhanced the efficiency for reporting clinical reports, reduced the time duration, and decreasing the chances of error rates. Their faster reporting technique has made it possible to come up with different opinions by various pathologists across geographical boundaries without physically fetching and delivering any images. Even with such advancements and contributing more than 50 percent of the total market, the idea of preventive healthcare is yet not widely practiced in most regions. The reason for such unsteady growth varies from the shortage of funding to the absence of awareness in the relevant domain. As most of the expenses that are carried out over the smart techniques depend upon the illness and preventive measure, making it deficit to reach optimum potential. Being a sensitive market in terms of price, the Indian government is working towards making the old labs under survey and evaluation precisely to make certain changes. Taking a further step with EDL – Essential Diagnostics list, concerning the regulation of price cap for diagnostics and standardization, could positively impact the sector of health. The subsequent factor that immensely impacts the sector is the changing business model, due to the emerging disease at different corners of the globe. Experts associated with diagnostics, now prefer to provide the service of collecting samples from the comfort of home. This effectively helps the pathologist to expand their customer base and adds value to their service. They are further looking to integrate with other clinics and firms, at the same time exploring to outsource the support for creating a better and growing environment.
-Renuka Singh
www.insightssuccess.in
“
We use the simplest high-end technologies to supply excellent and accurate diagnostic facilities
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Dr. Gulab Rai Gupta Chairman, Managing Director
MANGLAM DIAGNOSTICS
Delivering World-Class and Excellent Diagnostic Facilities
I
n these testing times, diseases and illness have become a matter of serious concern. Nowadays, people contracting hazardous diseases require instant medical assistance. Minor issues can be tackled with good rest and proper diet. However, serious health issues require the attention of specialized healthcare practitioners and diagnostic centers. In today’s age, the services of dedicated diagnostic centers are needed more than ever. One such prominent diagnostic center uplifting healthcare practices and protecting lives is Manglam Diagnostics. Established in 1996, the diagnostic center operates efficiently in the state of Haryana. With its head office and main processing unit located at Hisar city, it has been
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providing all diagnostic modalities under one roof for more than two decades. With a pioneering vision, Manglam Diagnostics established the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single donor platelet (SDP) machines in its blood bank along with the first nuclear medicine center with the newest PET CT scanner and a dual-head gamma camera in Haryana (except NCR). The center has also added Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) for dental & maxillofacial radiology to its canopy. It is the very first diagnostic center in Hisar city to provide this facility.
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Excellent Diagnostic Facilities Manglam Diagnostics provides a wide array of diagnostic facilities ranging from simple hemoglobin test to the most complex PET scan under one roof. These tests are performed under the supervision of well-qualified pathologists, microbiologists, and radiologists and repeated for assurance. The center conducts quality control procedures at regular intervals by utilizing quality check parameters such as internal quality check (IQC), inter-lab check (ILC), and external quality control (EQAS) to maintain the liability and accuracy of the results. Manglam Diagnostics focuses on opening new centers in those cities which lack quality diagnostic center with an engaged full-time pathologist and radiologist. The prime focus of these centers is to deliver affordable diagnostic facilities to tier III cities and nearby rural areas. Manglam Diagnostics employs the best machines, established ethical practices, and a team of qualified doctors and technical staff to deliver excellent diagnostic experiences to the patients. The center focuses on providing comfort to its patients. Accordingly, it offers free ambulance service, 24 hours emergency services, home collection facility, web facilitation of report view and download, 24×7 customer care, and a wonderful ambiance at its centers. The various diagnostic facilities available within the 8 different centers include hematology, biochemistry, serology, microbiology, histopathology, cytopathology, molecular diagnostic tests, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, and tons more. The centers at Hisar and Hansi also provide blood bank services. Economically weak customers can also avail timely discounts at these centers. Inspiring Leadership The guiding force responsible for the success of Manglam Diagnostics is Dr. Gulab Rai Gupta. He is a senior consultant pathologist as well as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the center. Dr. G. R. Gupta is a graduate in medicine from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam and a postgraduate in pathology from the prestigious Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh in 1993. While pursuing his MBBS, Dr. Gupta was awarded with six gold medals, four silver, and three bronze medals. He also won a gold medal for his overall proficiency in the subject of pathology in his post-graduation.
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PATHOLOGY CENTERS
Dr. Gupta is not only bright in academics, but also has a keen interest in sports. He is associated with various medical organizations and has also made many publications. He is renowned for modernizing medical diagnostics with excellent facilities at an affordable cost in the state of Haryana. The Success Saga Since its establishment in 1996, Manglam Diagnostics has evolved with time and has established itself as a dedicated player in the field of medical diagnostics. With its main center at Hisar, it has now become an ISO certified diagnostic center. It has earned the reputation of becoming the very first diagnostic center in Hisar city to have NABL accreditation for a medical laboratory and NABH accreditation for medical imaging modalities. Apart from main the center, Manglam Diagnostics is also planning to set up several quality diagnostic centers with qualified pathologists in tier II & III cities in the future. It is gradually spreading its wings to different cities of Haryana and in the forthcoming years, it plans to establish itself in almost all the important cities of the state. Motivating Work Environment Manglam Diagnostics believes in adding a human touch into its world-class high-tech services. Accordingly, it deploys trained and skilled staff across all its centers. The center provides timely and proper skill development training to the employees in the fields of handling of the instruments, sample processing, dealing with patients, and reporting. Employees can avail all the basic facilities to work without any interruption. The center further offers them incentives, personal appraisals, and promotions to boost their morale. The technical team communicates directly with the clinical and management team to maintain work continuity. Also, the employees are provided with the scope to maintain work-life balance. A Promising Future Team Manglam states that as per the Indian Diagnostic services outlook report 2020, the diagnostic industry will further grow at the rate of 27.5% for the next five years. It also believes that the first step towards making the diagnostic industry accessible and reliable is to follow the Clinical Establishment Act, and strictly regulate the running of diagnostic centers. In 2021, we are planning to open 15 to 20 more diagnostic centers in collaboration with foreign investor companies/corporates. Marching ahead, Manglam Diagnostic will keep on growing and deliver efficient services to more cities in the state of Haryana.
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ONCQUEST
Laboratories Ltd
Digitizing the Future of Lab Testing with Smart Technology
I
nnovation and developing technology are revolutionizing the world of diagnostics and lab testing – making it more handy, convenient, and faster. With advanced analytics, mobility, and IoT, the healthcare industry has been digitally modified to treat patients effectively with corrective measures. India’s leading super-specialized laboratory network – Oncquest Laboratories Ltd are among the developed business model who has shaped its name among favorite clinicians, specialty hospitals, and other path labs. Building a legacy of trust and accuracy with two decades in pathology testing, Oncquest has progressively evolved over time. Started as a research entity, it is known for second opinion and final diagnosis, using the most advanced technology and skills, and for its excellence in Molecular and Clinical Diagnostics. Oncquest started as a research lab in Dabur Research Foundation in 2001. In 2003 Oncquest moved to a new office in Safdarjung Enclave doing Molecular Biology, Flow Cytometry which was further expanded to other services and departments like Histopathology, IHC in 2004, Cytogenetics in 2006, and routine pathology in 2010. Hospital Lab Management was started, CAP accreditations, patient support programs started in 2005, and Clinical Trials as separate verticals by 2010.
Don’t wait for things to normalize, the world is in a reset mode and we must make the best of our capabilities. Play to your strengths and adapt to the change
A strong network of 43 Laboratories, 350+ Collection Centers, 1700+ Service Associates, with a strong presence in South Asia. Oncquest has a highly skilled and globally reputed team of qualified doctors with a combined experience of 600+ years. Its logistic capabilities and Pan Asia geographical spread make Oncquest an ideal
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associate for all clinical activities in India and neighboring countries. Oncquest is now on an aggressive expansion mode having acquired Quest Diagnostics’ Indian operations from Strand last year. Oncquest has a range of preventive health packages catering to the specific needs of each family member and based on gender, lifestyle, geographical trends, family history, and current/topical health issues. Some of the packages include: • Inner Fitness Packages – Beginners (for youngsters), Champion (middle-aged) and Legend (for seniors). • Cardiac, Diabetes, and similar other Inner Fitness Packages. For People especially with a family history of Cardiac, Diabetes, and other diseases. • Immunity Check Packages – General and Advanced. The immunity check packages were designed keeping the current pandemic in mind since a healthy immune system is the best defense against COVID-19. • Advanced screening packages covering extensive health parameters screening for bacterial/viral infection/inflammation / autoimmune disorders, etc. The packages are available across networks under different names and localized offerings. But all of them will have the same underlying scientific basis. Preventive Health & Cleanliness drive In consonance with the National initiative, the spirit of cleanliness through camps and other mass screening activities are also included to highlight the relationship between health, cleanliness, and potential diseases; clinical and subclinical. Various community initiatives are undertaken by Oncquest every year to promote good health and hygiene. These initiatives cover areas like smoking, hand hygiene, mass screenings for HPV, nicotine levels, infective disorders like gastroenteritis, parasitic infestations, fungal and viral infections, etc., and screenings for general health. The belief is that preventive actions can reduce the incidence of infective disorders significantly.
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Aditya C Burman Director, Oncquest Laboratories Ltd. On his return to India in 2004, Aditya joined Dabur Pharma Ltd, a specialist organization in the manufacture and global distribution of Oncology Pharmaceuticals, and a Burman Family-owned enterprise, in the capacity of Head of Sales and Marketing for Latin America. The company was subsequently sold to Fresenius Kabi, in 2008, and has continued in its endeavour to be a global leader in its field. Oncquest Laboratories, a Clinical Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics company with a core focus in Oncology and Genetics began its operations in 2001, and was focused on molecular technologies at a research level before expanding its scope of operations and geographical presence to a pan-India, multispeciality diagnostic chain. Under Aditya’s guidance since 2004, Oncquest has continued to innovate and bring many first-to-market assays, which have helped shape the field of companion diagnostics in India, as it stands today. Since 2008, Aditya took on the exclusive role of Director in Oncquest Laboratories Ltd, in which he continues till date. Since its inception Oncquest has grown manifold and continues to enjoy a healthy growth rate in a highly competitive industry. Oncquest has since established itself as a reference laboratory of choice for physicians, hospitals, and research bodies; its innovative pipeline of diagnostic assays maintains its hard-earned reputation.
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The activities start with pre counseling before the conduct of examination and tests, followed with physical examination and detection of diseases, measurement of height, weight, and blood pressure, tests are carried out, counseling is done during the examination, and follow up counseling is done once the test results are available. Rapidly Growing Healthcare Market
Dr. Ravinder Deep Singh Sethi Chief Operating Officer, Oncquest Laboratories Limited Popularly known as 'RD' amongst his friends, colleagues, and close business associates, Dr Ravinder Deep Singh Sethi in his career spanning over 22 years has focused on P&L Management and Strategy roles with industry leaders in FMCG (Hindustan Unilever), Telecom (Reliance Communications, Tata Communications) and healthcare (Ranbaxy Global Consumer, Dr Lal PathLabs, Metropolis Healthcare) with globally respected outcomes. He is a Doctorate in Management, PGDBM in Sales & Management and a Commerce graduate from Delhi University. He is a seasoned business leader and is known to transform organizations with powerful analytical skills, potent communication aptitudes and strategic goals. Dr Ravinder Singh Deep Sethi Joined Oncquest Laboratories Ltd. in July-2020 and is responsible for driving the overall growth and strengthening footprints in Indian and foreign market by expanding infrastructure, bringing clinical excellence, best practice, and team development. His vision is to make Oncquest Laboratories Ltd. a prominent player in the organized diagnostics category by developing new business modules, national/international sales and operations, restructuring, value creation, introduction of new products/tests and by leveraging logistics chain to enhance productivity and profitability.
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The vision is to become the most influential and appreciated partner for diagnostics. Started with Clinical Pathology service in 2001 and expanding to Molecular Biology and Flow Cytometry, the scientific team has now grown soundly from basic routine tests to the highly advanced/esoteric genome testing and predictive diagnostics. Oncquest has an in-house R&D Department that validates technologies from abroad, calibrates them against Indian people, their genetics constitution, environment settings, etc. Lack of Govt. regulations and no entry barriers prompted many non-serious players to jump into the fray. This paved way for mushrooming of standalone diagnostic players. Low entry barriers, start-ups / investor-funded small companies with low scientific backgrounds could muscle through with disruptive pricing, posing a major challenge to serious players whose bottom line got eroded. The prices of hi-end specialized Laboratory tests have been brought down by 40-60% in the past few years when compared to their international prices. Being a doctors’ brand – Oncquest is moving forward to leverage its expertise in B2B, to expand its segment in B2C with major cities in mind. Setting the right team to spearhead their growth with handpicked professionals, the goal is to reach out to the end customers and patients. Dwelling in the space for the last 2 decades with a sound medical team, Oncquest is leading the oncology-based testing market with the consistent support of their promoters - that are also the promoters of Dabur.
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The industry itself is growing at a CAGR of 15-20% and the shift to a recognized chain of laboratories is happening at a greater pace. With Government stepping up accreditations and controls, the more serious players who have invested in quality and accreditations will stand to benefit more than the players from the unorganized segment. Although plenty of services get affected due to lockdown and subsequent closure of OPDs, the health network of Oncquest kept their service open for critical and emergency testing. On receiving approval from ICRM for Covid-19 testing, they also continued to assist the Delhi government and other pertinent hospitals. Leveraging Hi-Tech Technological advancements were fast-tracked during the current pandemic, Govt. worked out virtual accreditations of labs/fast approvals, SOPs, apps for nation-wide tracking, all helped fight the pandemic using technology with greater ease. Post pandemic there is a growing realization of the importance of digital tools in diagnostics, and the need to identify health issues early. Online channels have mushroomed offering information, consults, virtual assistants, together with new and innovative concepts like genetics-based testing, etc. Advancements in Genetics, Information technology, and digital pathology are transforming Histopathology and many other pathology subspecialties like Microbiology. In histopathology, screen-based reading is being used more than conventional microscopes. Startups operating in niche segments are bringing new and innovative ways to reach out to patients with point-of-care solutions and can bring world-class healthcare solutions into the remote areas of the country.
CORE VALUES TO CONSIDER
• To discover at an early stage the condition which afflict the populations we serve, through community outreach and our relationships with practitioners. • To diagnose with accuracy and reliability the condition which are presented to us, using the best-in-class of technology that is available; globally. • To defend, effectively, the population from such diseases for the future, through education and knowledge sharing.
With the diseases getting complex by the day, there is a growing dependence on diagnostics. With advanced technology and AI-based solutions, the challenges and uncertainties related to difficult diagnostics will be reduced, and accuracy will increase.
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Diagnostics Sphere
Technological Trends in GLOBAL DIAGNOSTIC and
PATHOLOGY CENTERS
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roper diagnosis is the first step to a treatment procedure. Without diagnosis there cannot be any treatment. Doctors and therapists advise patients on treatment options and future health risks based on the diagnosis. Here is where diagnostic and pathology centers play the primary and crucial role of aiding the medical professionals in appropriate diagnosis of the symptoms in a patient. The aim of pathology examination is to provide precise, specific, and detailed diagnosis so that the treating physician can formulate the best treatment plan possible. For example, there are hundreds of different types of tumors, most of which have distinct biology and necessitate a pathologist's accurate diagnosis. Another reason a diagnosis is important is that it informs health insurance companies if patients have a medical condition that necessitates treatment. According to Wikipedia, “Medical diagnosis is the process of determining which disease or condition explains a person's symptoms and signs. It is most often referred to as diagnosis with the medical context being implicit. The information required for diagnosis is typically collected from a history and physical examination of the person seeking medical care. Often, one or more diagnostic procedures, such as medical tests, are also done during the process”.
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Diagnostic and pathology centers are equipped with the required laboratory equipment and trained staff along with medical personnel that assist them in the process of identifying diseases in a patient who shows certain signs or symptoms. A better medical diagnosis is linked to better health care. It is a medically proven fact that diseases like cancer, diabetes, and tumors can be successfully cured if detected and treated at an early stage, and in some cases even before the patient begins to show signs and symptoms of the disease. Diagnostic centers consist of experts who determine if a patient is vulnerable to a particular disease. As a result, if the risk of a disease is identified, the patient may begin taking adequate precautions and/or medications prior to the onset of the disease, reducing the risk of further complications. Diagnostic centers not only assist in the identification of illnesses, but also show patients the path to therapy, which is often effective. Financial benefits of diagnostic centers are plenty. One of the most important is that if a particular disease is diagnosed in the early stages or the risk is discovered the patient must spend less on his health care. A typical diagnostics and pathology center usually consists of clinical lab and imaging equipment. A medical laboratory, also known as a clinical laboratory, is a facility that conducts experiments on clinical specimens (such blood, urine, stool, semen, bone-marrow and several other body fluids and tissues). There are various types of machines in diagnostic and pathology centers. Some of the important equipment are mentioned below. X-Ray: The oldest type of diagnostic imaging, X-Ray, uses radiation to create images. Solid tissue produces whiter images, so X-rays of bones appear very white. X-rays can be used to examine the skeletal system, examine body objects, and diagnose health problems such as pneumonia and certain types of cancer. Mammogram: provide a clear picture of the breast, mammograms use a type of low-dose x-rays. Doctors are on the lookout for suspicious tissue formations that could signal breast cancer. Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds create images of what is going on inside the body by using high-frequency sound waves. Ultrasound is most used in prenatal care, but they can also be used to look
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for cysts, examine your heart and blood vessels, as well as your kidneys, liver, and many other organs. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Massive magnet and radio waves are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine organs and internal structures. It is used to diagnose everything from tumors to ligament injuries. It is frequently employed to examine the brain and spinal cord. CT Scans: CT scans produce cross-sectional images of the body by combining multiple X-rays taken from various angles and using computers to stitch them together. It is used to examine the skeleton, check for blood clots, look for tumors, internal bleeding, or signs of heart disease, among other things. When looking at solid tissue, it is the most helpful. Positron Emission Tomography (PET): PET scans are also used in conjunction with CT scans, with
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CT scans looking at solid structures and PET scans looking at chemical activity in softer tissues. PET scans look at how your tissues work by using a tracer, which is a mildly radioactive drug. It can be used to investigate cancers, heart disease, and mental illnesses. Fluoroscopy: Fluoroscopy uses X-rays to create a real-time image of the body's inner workings. It displays actions rather than still slices, such as the inner workings of swallowing and the heart's actual beats. It is helpful for seeing what is going on in real time – for example, if you are having trouble swallowing, it will show you the exact motions of body structures as you swallow. These images can also be used by diagnostic imaging centers to plan and perform minimally invasive procedures. Diagnostic imaging is used in medical procedures such as stent placement, cancer radiation therapy, and biopsies.
-Ashish Chandgude
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SRL A
diagnosis is an important tool for you and your doctor. Doctors and therapists use a diagnosis to advise you on treatment options and future health risks. Another reason a diagnosis matters is that it tells health insurance companies that you have a condition requiring medical care. A doctor's diagnosis is also necessary to qualify for Social Security disability support and job protection. Anand K., CEO, SRL Diagnostics, has over 25 years of robust work experience in the healthcare industry specializing in Diagnostics and Laboratory services in India, South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He comes with deep subject knowledge of the diagnostics and healthcare industry, combined with strong business acumen, allowing him to view business with a wider lens then narrow it down to connect the dots, identify business drivers, understand complex issues, take actions and drive results. He joined SRL from Apollo Hospitals Group where he was the CEO of their Diagnostic Business Unit of AHLL, based in Hyderabad. The Company's philosophy has always been to contribute to the health and wellness of the communities they serve. Over the years they have empowered doctors, hospitals, and other medical professionals in reaching the right diagnoses. Along with that, our preventive portfolios have also created opportunities for every individual to manage their own health. Keeping this philosophy at the center, we envision becoming the most trusted and dynamic leader in the diagnostic industry by providing exceptional customer experience through science, technology, and people with a focus on quality, innovation, and compassionate care. Let us take a look at what Mr. Anand has to share with us in the highlights of the interview below:
Enlighten us with the journey of your establishment so far.
Diagnostics
Redefining Diagnostics in a Dynamic Way
patients in their journey towards better health with a presence in more than 600 cities across 30 states and Union territories in the country. In our category, we have always been an early adopter of technology, right from our genesis. Reflecting on the past two and a half decades what comes to mind are the opportunities where SRL has played a significant role for its customers and patients. From providing the best diagnostics services in rural, tribaldominated areas of Jharkhand, Himachal, and Uttar Pradesh to catering to the urban health-conscious population by unveiling preventive diagnostics brand – SRL Care. Our people have played an instrumental role in UNICEF's Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) where SRL was not just responsible for collecting samples of young adolescent children but was also in charge of dispatching their reports back to these villages – something that only SRL could do. On the technology side, our strategic project for developing Artificial Intelligence Solutions in Pathology along with Microsoft has been one of its kind in the industry – again speaks volumes about our capability and strength. Today, SRL is the only true PanIndia diagnostic brand that is present across the length and breadth of the country in more than 600 cities, with many firsts along its way. We were the first ones to have a centralized lab information system much before they even came into India and also pioneers to have a website in the diagnostics industry. We were also the first diagnostics company to have a full-fledged Research and Development (R&D) Division. Besides, we are the first national lab to use AI & Big Data to launch a full-blown loyalty program and smart+ reports for our customers. We were also the first diagnostics company to set up labs internationally, in Dubai and Nepal about 10 years ago. Today, we cater to international markets like Southeast Asia & Middle East. It definitely hasn’t been an easy journey for our firm, our people have had to work through some turbulent times. But SRL had always sailed through in this highly competitive market and at the same time created its own niche.
SRL diagnostics has a rich legacy of 25 years, helping
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THE
BEST OF
DIAGNOSTIC
AND
PATHOLOGY CENTERS
Kindly talk about different care packages and services offered by your diagnostic and pathology center. SRL Care, by the brand, is a platform that offers a range of comprehensive, customized full-body check-up packages. The packages are a part of the company's initiatives to change the lives of people by showcasing the benefits of a preventive healthcare mindset. The package is recommended keeping in mind a customer's age, gender, lifestyle, health history, and life-stage. The consumer simply needs to log on to SRL's mobile app or website, or they can just walk into any lab to get a preventive package based on their specific requirements and/ or age profile to suit the particular needs of the individual consumer. How the technological advancements and innovation in the healthcare space has influenced your diagnostic and pathology center's daily operations? We have witnessed a shift in customer preferences; as more and more people are now opting to book online tests; home collection and telehealth is the new mode of diagnosis. There has been a 70% growth in this segment as Home collection has become the preferred mode for tier 1 cities, post the pandemic.
Anand K. CEO
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The 'Diagnostics of the Future' is envisioned to be built on smarter, safer, and sustainable lab setups that will be driven by design thinking and smart technology to meet the most pressing challenges
With the growing relevance of connected devices, IoT, and wearable, a new era of self-monitoring has been ushered in. Through equipment, now available at home, and AI technologies, the role of diagnosis can be enhanced and changed drastically. The sum of this shift amount to a highly informed customer base that is aware of their healthcare needs. Therefore, to cater to this segment, SRL has a mobile app and a website. Recently we also introduced WhatsApp for Business to share test reports, which has been useful in reducing patients' waiting time and provide information on the go. What are your strategically driven plans to be implemented in order to enhance the efficiencies of your pathology center in the upcoming year? Digitalization in diagnostics is transforming the job of pathologists into a more creative and data-driven one while it is allowing patients to receive diagnoses faster and with higher accuracy. Hence, going forward we would like our pathologists to have an option to report from anywhere, and hence we have established Digital Pathology labs within our reference laboratories in Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Bangalore.Furthermore, it will help us in leveraging the talent pool efficiently and will allow technicians and lab
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doctors to read images remotely, enabling real-time virtual collaboration between their multi-disciplinary care teams. In the future, we will also see an increase in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into digital pathology. Current research is focusing on developing AI to improve the software used in digital pathology. SRL is already working closely with Microsoft to develop algorithms that would provide tools to pathologists for faster and more accurate diagnoses of diseases such as cancer, remotely. This is especially useful in remote areas as you can get the data to the doctor in no time. What does the future look like for your pathology center in terms of growth and expansion? SRL has a strong network of 400+ labs and 1800+ customer touch points spread across 600 Cities, 30 States, and Union Territories. With the recent pandemic, there was an immediate demand for faster turnaround time on COVID RT PCR reports. Hence, we have expanded our capacity for COVID testing significantly, with RT-PCR labs and centers opening across the length of the country. So far, we have opened 12 RT-PCR facilities across the country. We have opened two labs in Mumbai, one each in Gurgaon, Ludhiana, Raipur, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Guwahati, and Kolkata. In addition to this, we are catering to rural and tribal areas like Deoghar, Jharkhand. In the coming months, we will continue our journey towards market share improvement in the geographies that we operate through the consolidation of organic growth and also evaluate inorganic growth opportunities as they arise. We all know the Covid-19 pandemic has created a lot of workload for caregivers and ancillary healthcare service providers. But what problems your pathology center has faced specifically in this ongoing pandemic? A lot has happened in the diagnostic industry ever since the lockdown started in the country in mid-March. There has been a massive decline in the B2C business with a significantly lower footfall of walk-ins during the lockdown. This was only aggravated further with the restriction on the interstate and intrastate movement, giving rise to logistical challenges to move samples around. Restrictions on OPD services and elective surgeries at hospitals and clinics, majorly affected B2B business in Q1. However, in Q2 we were able to regain momentum with the unlocking of the economy.
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In your opinion, what is the industry scenario of Indian diagnostics and pathology centers? The Indian Diagnostics industry is witnessing strong growth and is coming out of the shadows with the rise in awareness on preventive health, changing lifestyle due to Covid-19. The pathology market size in India is around INR 45000 crores growing at the rate of 13 –14% every year. However, the diagnostic sector in India is highly fragmented with organized sector having only around 15% share.There is a need for all the states to adopt the Clinical Establishment Act that will help the state to monitor the technical competence and ensure adequate quality control on procedures in the labs including mandatory accreditation requirements. While the diagnostic industry has always been dominated by unorganized players, major diagnostic chains are slowly disrupting the market by acquiring smaller local labs. Furthermore, the sector is witnessing several major trends that are powered by growth drivers like changing customer expectations, the rise of informed and aware consumer base opting for preventive health, widespread adoption of personalized medicine driven by precision diagnostics – Genomics, and the trend moving towards digital healthcare and home-based services. The 'Diagnostics of the Future' is envisioned to be built on smarter, safer, and sustainable lab setups that will be driven by design thinking and smart technology to meet the most pressing challenges. To provide personalized care, the laboratories would need to find newer ways to tackle changing demand for healthcare services, adopt smart integration technologies, data science, and analytics. In the coming future, Clinical Lab 2.0, fueled by the pandemic, will redefine the role of diagnostics in the care continuum, aligning with value-based healthcare. For laboratories to take on their future role, another vital aspect will be to focus on their healthcare workers' well-being and investments in the training and development of human capital.
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