UPDATE 1-Assura says Q1 trading ahead of own view

* Says on track to achieving profitability

* Q1 revenue up 18 pct (Adds details)

Aug 11 (Reuters) - British healthcare firm Assura Group Ltd (AGRP.L) said on Tuesday its first-quarter trading was ahead of its estimates and that it was firmly on track to achieving profitability.

The company said it saw strong revenue growth in the medical business, increased turnover in the wholly owned pharmacies and continued growth in rental income.

The GP services owner said it was going ahead with the disposal of its non-core assets with two further investment properties sold for 3 million pounds ($4.9 million).

For the three months ended June 30, the company said its revenue grew 18 percent compared with the same quarter last year. Assura said first-quarter revenue of 1.6 million pounds generated in the GPCos, the group's joint venture partnerships with GPs, were significantly ahead of budget as certain contracts were operational sooner than forecast.

"The pharmacy business is trading well and good rental uplifts are continuing in our property portfolio. Overall we believe the business is firmly on track to achieving profitability," Chief Executive Richard Burrell said in a statement.

For the year to end-March, the company had posted an adjusted trading loss of 2.7 million pounds, compared with a loss of 5.4 million pounds a year ago.

Assura shares closed at 31.25 pence on Monday on the London Stock Exchange. ($1=.6072 POUND) (Reporting by Tresa Sherin Morera in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)