Thumbay Labs, a leading network of private diagnostic labs in the region, has announced a major expansion plan targeting the Middle East, Africa and India.

According to the strategic plan announced at the Medlab 2017 in Dubai, the Thumbay Labs network will emerge as the biggest chain of private diagnostics lab in the region by 2022, said a statement

The comapny, owned and operated by Thumbay Group – UAE, offers a wide portfolio of advanced tests, and is regarded as one of the most trusted names in diagnostic testing. It is the largest chain of private diagnostic labs in the UAE, and is among the largest service providers in terms of the range of tests available, the number of diagnostic tests done and revenue, the statement said.

“According to the strategic plans of Thumbay Group, we hope to have 25 diagnostic labs worldwide by 2022, making Thumbay Labs the biggest chain of private diagnostics lab in the region,” said Thumbay Moideen, founder president of Thumbay Group.

He explained that this would complement the group’s healthcare division’s expansion plans which will see the Thumbay academic hospital network have a total of 1,000 beds in the UAE, 1,500 beds in India and 750 beds elsewhere in the Gulf and Africa by 2022, taking the total number of hospitals to 15 worldwide.

With the recent College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation of its laboratories in Dubai and Fujairah, in addition to its central facility in Ajman which had been accredited earlier, Thumbay Labs has become one of the largest chains of CAP accredited private labs in the region, it added.

Thumbay Labs has announced several new initiatives, in the quest for further widening its tests portfolio, as well as to increase market share. It is in the process of expanding its clientele, by tying up with major hospitals, both in the private and government sectors. Thumbay Labs has been focusing on specialised segments, targeting key specialties like diabetotology, genetics and women and child health. An example is NeoScreen which is a 57 parameter assay for new born screening using multiple technologies like LCMS, HPLC, and Time Resolved Flourimetry, priced lowest in the country.

Thumbay Labs also undertakes hospital lab management and has entered into acquisitions/mergers in a big way, with plans to further expand its presence in these areas.

Thumbay Labs operates its central lab service at the Center for Advanced Biomedical Research and Innovation (CABRI), a state-of-the-art facility established at the Gulf Medical University, Ajman for research and diagnostics. CABRI plays an important role in enhancing the quality of training for students undergoing Master’s degree at Gulf Medical University. It also plays important part in enhancing student/faculty research and coordinates contracted research through Thumbay Group’s academic hospitals.

Presently, Thumbay Labs has facilities at various locations in the UAE, as well as in Hyderabad, India. More outlets with comprehensive clinical testing facilities like Imaging, Cardio/Neuro tests, Occupational health related tests, Allergy and intolerance testing and a wide array of preventive health panels, are planned as part of its global expansion plans.

Dr Palat Krishna Menon, director of Thumbay Labs, said the growing number of CAP-accredited labs with proven standards in quality, accuracy and precision has helped Thumbay Labs emerge as an important player in the diagnostics industry of the UAE, the Mena region and beyond. “Positioning Thumbay Labs as a leading provider of diagnostic services in the region, has been a huge achievement. Evidence-based medicine requires the support of good quality labs which offer accurate and reliable diagnostic services, and this is an important area where Thumbay Labs can play a crucial role,” he said.

He added that that Thumbay Labs would introduce new technologies like MALDI-TOF, ICPMS, FTIR, in its quest to emerge as the best-equipped network of labs in the region, and to enhance innovation in medical research.

Thumbay Labs showcased its latest offerings at the Medlab exhibition held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, including its most comprehensive modern facilities offering unique advantages such as complete end-to-end automation, online report availability, automated email report dispatch, research and referral facilities, QMS expertise, etc. - TradeArabia News Service