Health Care Global Enterprises (HCG), which has a chain of oncology centres across the country has made an investment between Rs.11 crore to Rs.15 crore to install a new technology, Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beam Linear Accelerator.


The technology in oncology is known to provide more precise treatment for the disease. The advanced system is able to deliver tumour residual dose allowing less exposure to normal tissues, fewer side effects and is viewed as a more effective option.


“We are just waiting for the approval from AERB (Atomic Energy Regulatory Body) to start functioning,” Dr BS Ajai Kumar, chairman, HCG told Pharmabiz.


“We are the first in the country to bring this technology. Globally, this technology is available in the US and European countries. There is no specific funding that we have opted to install Flattening Filter Free. We are self sufficient with the funds to bring in the new technology in cancer treatment for patients. Our investors are Premji Invest, Religare Milestone, Evolvence,” stated Dr Ajai Kumar.


Its investors are IDFC Private Equity, Evolvence India Life Sciences and PremjiInvest, a fund sponsored by Wipro chief Azim Premji and Milestone Religare.


For the patient, the treatment would be 10 to 15 percent higher in comparison to Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), he said.


The cancer care centre was also one of the two centres in the country to install CyberKnife the first and only whole body radio surgery system in 2009 , the other being Apollo Hospital New Delhi.


Using Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beam Linear Accelerator, HCG team can treat any stage of cancer, but we will not be able to treat large tumours with this technology.


In order to ensure patients are diagnosed early to save them easily, HCG organized a seminar to highlight the key advantages of Flattening Filter Free (FFF) Beam Linear Accelerator to the doctors. Officials from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board were also present to provide the safety aspects on the patient.


As part of its future efforts, the oncology care major is looking at the prospects of bringing in proton therapy. Going by the growing incidence of cancer in the country, it would also set up a dedicated liver transplantation cell and an advanced surgical oncology centre which could undertake Bone Marrow Transplant blood less surgery.


Besides, HCG is also expanding its foot print globally. To begin with, it will be opening three centres in Africa and has also set its sights on Middle East and South East Asia, stated Dr Ajai Kumar.