SRL Ranbaxy, India's diagnostic and lab testing major, plans to strengthen its presence in the UAE by opening laboratories and is looking at the possibility of serving as an outsourcing hub for hospitals here.

The company, which entered the UAE market six months ago, has already created an impact, with several hospitals and labs expressing serious interest in its services.

"We are considering setting up labs in the UAE. We have had discussions with several people on this. We have also had several discussions in relation to Dubai HealthCare City," said Vidur Kaushik, chief executive.

SRL Ranbaxy has established alliances with several hospitals and labs in the UAE within a short period, but the bigger opportunities are round the corner, one being Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in health care.

"Outsourcing is a new business opportunity in the UAE and there is a great possibility of SRL Ranbaxy considering this. We could partner with hospitals here to offer lab testing and other services," Kaushik told Gulf News yesterday.

"It would not only be cost-effective, efficient and quick but in a broader sense we could bring in new technology, education, people, IT and such services that, for me, is BPO."

The company provides outsourcing for some private hospitals in the United Kingdom.

The New Delhi-based executive visualises a plum role for Indian companies in this region's health care sector.