Keith Vaz MP Visits Diabetes Specialist

MP and diabetes campaigner Keith Vaz visited Surrey-based Quotient Diagnostics Ltd to collect a donation of four HbA1c analysers used to monitor diabetic patients.

Mr Vaz visited Quotient, which is owned by AIM-listed EKF Diagnostics, on 19th September where he was presented with four EKF Quo-Lab A1c analysers by Brian Hickey, CEO of Quotient and Ramesh Patel, Managing Director of medical supplies company BHR.

The analysers will be used by Silver Star, a charity that Mr Vaz set up to promote awareness about diabetes. Silver Star runs mobile units that carry out diabetes testing in towns and cities in the UK and will shortly be handing over the keys to a fourth unit to its Indian branch.

Mr Vaz, who was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago, was also given a tour of the company’s manufacturing plant and met several members of staff. Mr Hickey said “As a politician Mr Vaz understands the importance of finding ways to prevent the onset of diabetes and the associated conditions because of the strain diabetes-related illnesses put on the National Health Service.”

Mr Hickey continued, “ Instead of testing diabetes patients’ glucose levels on a daily basis EKF’s HbA1c analysers are used monitor patients’ health just four times a year. This means patients need less testing and allows vital healthcare funds to be diverted into other areas.”

The EKF Quo-Lab analyser is designed and manufactured in Surrey and has been developed particularly for developing world markets. Since Quo-Lab’s launch in July 2012, EKF has sold more than 250 devices to a worldwide base of customers including India, Lebanon and the Philippines.