HealthCare Global Enterprises and GE Healthcare have inked a strategic oncology partnership to address the growing oncology needs in India with the commissioning of an advanced GMP and FDA compliant Molecular Imaging Centre (MIC) in Bangalore.

The facility is the first of its kind in India. The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art molecular imaging systems including a GE Discovery™ STe, GE PETTrace medical cyclotron & Tacerlab MX automated Chemistry Lab and Infinia dual head nuclear gamma camera system.

The reason GE was selected for the project was due to the technological expertise and the company's extensive portfolio, "With a comprehensive facility such as the HCG, a diverse range of solutions are required. GE demonstrated an attractive proposition because as a key healthcare infrastructure provider, they presented a holistic approach to cater for multiple aspects of HCGs projects seamlessly," said Dr Ajai Kumar, chairman, HealthCare Global Enterprises.

Molecular imaging is a combination of fields such as biology, medicine, pharmaceutics, physics, chemistry and engineering that allows physicians to detect, treat and monitor disease at the body's cellular levels. Although this technology may sound rather futuristic, molecular imaging and scanning capabilities make multi-medical therapy possible. It can diagnose coronary artery disease, cancer/tumours or neurological diseases, in patients with no clear symptoms. Physicians can treat different patients according to specific situations, potentially slow the progression of the disease, and evaluate the effects of treatment.

"Molecular imaging has huge potential to enable detection of diseases at a much earlier stage and change the way we manage the patient today. Molecular imaging techniques in combination with specific biomarkers are helping physicians to choose suitable medications for a particular patient, predict and monitor the effects of those medications and personalize patients' treatments - hence contributing to a more efficient and higher quality treatment of common maladies like cancer, cardiovascular diseases or neurological disorders," said V Raja, president and CEO, GE Healthcare.

"Our vision is to identify and treat the molecular causes of diseases long before the patient ever experiences any symptoms and GE is at the forefront of developing these early health solutions that will transform the future of healthcare."

"Together, we will provide the healthcare sector in the region with sophisticated and unparalleled molecular imaging and diagnostic services, leveraging on the world-class facilities offered by our centre," said Dr Ajai Kumar.

GE's Discovery STe installed at the Healthcare Global Enterprises is the latest of its kind and combines 16-slice computed tomography (CT- which provides highly detailed pictures of the patient's anatomy), with positron emission tomography (PET-provides metabolic information) in a single system. It helps doctors determine whether a suspicious growth is cancerous or benign in a single exam. Previously, doctors had to put patients through two separate scans to get similar information - with little success.

"Using the combined images, our doctors can answer critical questions," said Dr K G Kallur, Director, PET-Sensation Centre, HCG Group.