He joined Beckman Coulter as the Managing Director for the Middle East in 2014. In 2016, he was appointed for an additional role as Managing Director for Danaher, Middle East. Currently, Dr. Azmy is the Vice President of Commercial Management for Middle East and Africa, for the company.

Below are excerpts from his interview with MEDLAB:

How has the laboratory industry evolved in the region? What has been the impact of advancements such as Point-of-care-testing (POCT), Big Data, and personalized medicine on the industry?

The laboratory industry in the region is steadily growing in volume. New advancements in the healthcare industry are yet to play an instrumental role in the lab business with the exception of the clinical IT, connectivity and the ability to manage the hub and spoke business model.

According to you, how essential is automation in labs today?

Automation is still the best laboratory solution, even in the average size labs as it brings about more efficiency, accuracy and workflow optimisation.

What are some of the challenges faced by the industry currently and what does the future looks like?

The biggest challenge is the commoditisation of the lab business without losing focus on the quality; where lower prices plays a more deciding role in the selection of the services. A real breakthrough of innovation in the industry has been there for a few years now and will likely continue to grow.

Could you give us a brief of the products and solutions you will be showcasing at MEDLAB?

Beckman Coulter will showcase a full lab solution during MEDLAB, including automation tracks and the latest analyzers in chemistry, immune-chemistry and haematology.

What according to you are the opportunities available to healthcare and trade professionals who attend MEDLAB?

The real opportunity is in the engaged discussion that takes place between the clinicians and the industry in terms of the available solutions and the latest innovation.

By Deepa Narwani, Editor, MEDLAB Magazine