Dabur OncQuest has entered into a joint venture with Annapurna Diagnostics Centre in Nepal capital, Kathmandu to offers its services. Under the pact, the operations are run on profit sharing basis. This is the first foray for Dabur OncQuest outside India.

The Dabur OncQuest will provide the high level of awareness in patient management for Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) where healthcare providers in Kathmandu are closely interacting with medical colleges in the United Kingdom, Vivek Trikha Head - Diagnostics, Dabur Pharma Limited. The pilot run carried out diagnosis of over 200 patients, which generated revenues to the tune of over Rs 15 lakh.

Nepal accounts for 0.4% of cancer incidence. Dabur OncQuest will offer the entire range of tests: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR); Real Time PCR; Fluorescent - In - Situ - Hybridization (FISH); Cytogenetics; Flowcytometry; Immunohistochemistry and Routine Surgical Pathology besides the branded molecular testing algorithms CML Quest (MRD), BCR/abl translocation assay by PCR and CML Quest (IRMA). The tests will help oncologists and patients to optimize cancer care through early diagnosis. Giving importance to affordability factor, the company is also extending its Socio-Economic project to blood cancer patients where they will get the premium testing technique, which is available at Rs. 6,000.

The company has a team in place to visit Katmandu to oversee the operations and also train the pathologists there, interact with clinicians to provide an update on the available technologies for screening, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. Dabur OncQuest plans to set up authorized collection centres at Bhagalpur and Chitwann in Nepal. The company is also looking at Philippines, Malaysia and Dubai to set-up centres either as a partnership model or as stand-alone operations.