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DRL
launches India’s first onco helpline
EPP
News Bureau - Mumbai
Dr
Reddy’s Laboratories, an emerging global pharmaceutical company,
launched OncoQuest, India’s first real times specialized helpline
for doctors, at Oncology ‘02 here recently.
The
helpline has been launched in association with The Indian Co-operative
Oncology Network (ICON). Vilasrao Deshmukh, Hon’ble Chief Minister
of Maharashtra inaugurated the helpline by making the first call.
The call was attended by Dr Purvish Parikh, founder member, ICON.
Oncology
‘02 is the first joint summit of the Indian Society of Medical
and Paediatric Oncology and the Indian Society of Oncology. The
summit would focus on current views of evidence-based practice and
future trends in oncology.
According
to a release, OncoQuest will provide free and specialized oncology
advice to these physicians for helping them in better cancer patient
management. This helpline is aimed at providing them assistance
in saving lives and improving the quality of life of a cancer patient.
The
helpline will be manned by a team of experienced oncologists based
in Mumbai. They would be supported by oncologists spread across
the country and will be operational round-the-clock, the release
added.
Commenting
on the launch, LG Murali, general manager, Critical Care Division,
Dr Reddy’s, said, ‘‘Every year 8 to 10-lakh people
are diagnosed with cancer. Only a small proportion of these patients
receive specialized care at the 19 regional cancer centers across
the country. Since cancer entails prolonged treatment, most of the
cases are followed up by the referring physicians at the patient’s
hometown. The helpline aims to assist these referring physicians
in managing the cancer patients better. This would be of critical
importance in the battle against this disease.’’
The
release explains, when dealing with a patient suspected of cancer,
physicians calling on OncoQuest would be advised on the tests that
need to be conducted to confirm the diagnosis. If required, the
physician would be referred to the nearest available oncologist.
In cases where the patient is undergoing treatment, OncoQuest experts
would advise doctors on the various cancer management issues, especially
on managing side effects, proper administration of chemotherapy,
drug titration when necessary and tackling emergencies.
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