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Dabur OncQuest: Fighting Cancer With Technology
EHM News Bureau
Dabur OncQuest, a Dabur group company, is a pioneer in exclusive
molecular testing facility in the area of diagnostic oncology in South East
Asia. It is the only diagnostic company that is offering solutions for cancer
testing in the country. Specimens from almost all cancer specialty hospitals
are reaching its laboratory.
According to Vivek Trikha, Head- Diagnostics, Dabur OncQuest, “Cancer being
a hospital-based disease, OncQuest's target is niche, which include oncologists
and haemato-oncologsits and hospitals.” Set up in 2003, the main clients
of Dabur OncQuest are cancer hospitals, nursing homes and CROs. Till now they
have carried out about 10,000 tests. Incidentally, the charges for tests range
from Rs 200 to Rs 20,000.
The company has tie-ups with over 100 hospitals in the country, including Sir
Ganga Ram Hospital and Apollo in Delhi. They also get walk-in patients from
nearby AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospitals because the turnaround time here is very
less.
“Currently, OncQuest has its presence in eight locations and 30 specimen
collection centres covering all major Indian cities,” says Trikha and adds
that it also caters to patients from Sri Lanka, through its Chennai office.
The company is looking at expanding towards neighbouring countries in the coming
months. OncQuest has introduced a number of techniques to evaluate the structure
of DNA, RNA or proteins in cells. The most common methods used in the clinical
setting include: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Real Time PCR, Fluorescent
- In - Situ - Hybridisation (FISH), Cytogenetics, Flow Cytometry, Immunohistochemistry
& Routine Surgical Pathology.
OncQuest's laboratory tests help oncologists answer specific
questions about a patient's cancer. OncQuest utilises
the experience and expertise of trained scientists and
physicians to provide-clinicians with an incisive diagnosis
and prognosis (monitoring) to identify disease and provide
monitoring solutions at the fine point of differentiation
of a disease. The rate of growth of the cancer market
is about 18-20 per cent and is growing rapidly, informs
Trikha, adding that oncology diagnostic testing will
have an important role to play. At the moment, the market
is highly fragmented and the company is looking at expanding
its geographical reach. "The concept of oncology
diagnostic lab is fairly new in India and it is an expensive
proposition, however, we have been well accepted by
oncologists across the country over the last three years,"
avers Trikha.
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