Interview Dr. Avinash Phadke maining the backbone of a new relationship with any manufacturer etc. are essential. Today, companies abroad have most of the innovation happening with tests for Ebola, TB and Oncology. Indian companies should also strive to invest in R&D and it will pay off in the long run. Agappe was one of the first companies to introduce nephelometry based assays in portable, semiautomated systems where tests like C3, C4, RA, Microal bumin could be performed accurately even in a small lab.
Q
7. In your opinion, how can the industry deliver the patient needs in a developing country like India? Ans. Small, point of care systems with reasonable quality for rural areas is important. Focusing on regional as well as national labs to partner with them in their growth will help the country. Pathologists play a very important role in ensuring quality in labs.
"The pathologist\microbiologist should play an advisory role in the labs to the clinicians as well as the patients. The pathology industry is getting commoditised except for areas like histopathology, molecular diagnostics and microbiology. Unless the pathologists maintain a good connect with clinicians and patients, it is difficult to build a good practice and retain your client base."
Manufacturing in India is essential to lower the costs of import and therefore the reagent costs. Solving problems with innovation is extremely important. Good service, providing reagents in a timely manner and being able to keep up with the growth demands of partner labs, re-
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Testing should be done as close to the patient as possible to make sure the results are valid and of good quality.
Q
8. What is your take home message to the medical profession and to the d iagnostic industry as a whole?
Ans. Till Healthcare insurance picks up in a big way in India, patients have to pay from their own pockets for diagnostic investigations. Try and give the patients quality diagnostic services at a reasonable cost. With advances in technology, we can provide high-end investigations with molecular diagnostics to tier 2 and tier 3 cities. This would not have been possible a few years ago. The pathologist\microbiologist should play an advisory role in the labs to the clinicians as well as the patients. The pathology industry is getting commoditised except for areas like histopathology, molecular diagnostics and microbiology. Unless the pathologists maintain a good connect with clinicians and patients, it is difficult to build a good practice and retain your client base.