ID :
70629
Thu, 07/16/2009 - 10:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/70629
The shortlink copeid
COLUMBIA ASIA TO SET UP 15 NEW HOSPITALS IN INDIA
NEW DELHI, July 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia-based Columbia Asia, a consortium of healthcare providers, is chalking out an ambitious expansion strategy for its Indian market, with 15 new multi-specialty hospitals in the pipeline.
Columbia had announced that it was ready to invest nearly US$100 million
(RM350 million) over the next three years to create over 2,000 beds from the
current 570 beds in its five hospitals that it owns in India.
"Since we prefer to go alone and invest through the 100 percent FDI (foreign
direct investment) route, the slowdown has not impacted our India expansion
plans.
"Our parent company in Kuala Lumpur is financially strong. In fact, funds
for the 15 new hospitals are already in place. We are just finalising the real
estate deals," Columbia Asia (India) chief executive officer T. Ghosh told the
Economic Times.
At present, the consortium operates 14 healthcare facilities across Asia and
by end of 2011 it aims to set up 17 new hospitals in the region.
In India it owns five hospitals - two in Bangalore, one in Delhi, Kolkata
and Mysore.
In Malaysia, it operates five hospitals while another six are being planned
nationwide.
Columbia plans to set up hospitals in India on the "community hospital
model" concept, which includes primary and secondary medical services.
"We are also planning to set up smaller 30-bed hospitals in four cities
and the first one is coming up in Karnataka.
"Once we have developed the community hospital network, the next step will
be to set up 200-bed referral hospitals which will have expertise to treat rare
and difficult cases," Ghosh told the newspaper in an interview in Kolkata.
--BERNAMA
Columbia had announced that it was ready to invest nearly US$100 million
(RM350 million) over the next three years to create over 2,000 beds from the
current 570 beds in its five hospitals that it owns in India.
"Since we prefer to go alone and invest through the 100 percent FDI (foreign
direct investment) route, the slowdown has not impacted our India expansion
plans.
"Our parent company in Kuala Lumpur is financially strong. In fact, funds
for the 15 new hospitals are already in place. We are just finalising the real
estate deals," Columbia Asia (India) chief executive officer T. Ghosh told the
Economic Times.
At present, the consortium operates 14 healthcare facilities across Asia and
by end of 2011 it aims to set up 17 new hospitals in the region.
In India it owns five hospitals - two in Bangalore, one in Delhi, Kolkata
and Mysore.
In Malaysia, it operates five hospitals while another six are being planned
nationwide.
Columbia plans to set up hospitals in India on the "community hospital
model" concept, which includes primary and secondary medical services.
"We are also planning to set up smaller 30-bed hospitals in four cities
and the first one is coming up in Karnataka.
"Once we have developed the community hospital network, the next step will
be to set up 200-bed referral hospitals which will have expertise to treat rare
and difficult cases," Ghosh told the newspaper in an interview in Kolkata.
--BERNAMA
