Diagnostic facility to launch in £1m UK-India deal

Kolkata-based Advatech will work with National Pathology, based in Welford, to establish the centre.

The facility will offer genetic testing and pathology services, such as blood tests, to NHS and private healthcare providers.

The deal follows the first UK-Indian healthcare conference and trade visit earlier this month.

A delegation of 18 India-based healthcare and life science firms attended bioConclave 2015 last week. Advatech was also supported by Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership in setting up the £1m deal.

Dr Bala Raju, medical director at Advatech, said the firm currently runs a number of diagnostic labs in India in partnership with other diagnostic centres.

“We have been keen to break into the UK market and the new centre will mean bringing diagnostic tests closer to the public, meaning a faster turnaround time which will help save lives,” he said.

“We’re also well set to launch our mobile ambulance app later this year, which will play a huge role in making it easier for patients to book an ambulance direct.”

The firm will initially work with the private sector but hopes to win public sector contracts in the future, Dr Raju added.

bioConclave is set to become an annual event, to bring together UK and Indian businesses.

Tie-ups with Indian firms could be lucrative for the UK health sector, with the biotech market forecast to grow to US$100bn (£68bn)by 2025.