QUALITAS PAIRS WITH CHENNAI'S DENTISTREE TO OPEN DENTAL HOSPITALS

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, July 17 (Bernama) -- Qualitas Medical Group Sdn Bhd, a primary
healthcare services provider in Malaysia, has struck a deal with Chennai-based
Dentistree India Private Ltd, to launch speciality dental hospitals across south
India.

Both managements inked a joint venture, with Qualitas holding 40 percent
equity and Dentistree controlling 60 percent, to kick-start the chain of dental
hospitals equipped with ultra-modern treatment facilities.

"Qualitas will bring in their (hospital) chain management skills and
finances, we will share our dental expertise," Dentistree's managing director Dr
V. Vijayakumar told Bernama in a telephone interview from Chennai.

"In our first phase, we plan to start four speciality hospitals in four
Indian cities by end of this August," he said.

With an initial investment of RM7.7 million (10.2 crore Indian rupees),
these one-stop dental hospitals will begin operating in Bangalore, Chennai,
Cochin, and Hyderabad.

"All dental treatments will be offered at the same platform, including laser
treatments, orthodontic treatments and CAD-CAM technologies in line with
international standards," said Dr Vijaykumar.

"We want to narrow the technological gap in dental treatment using Indian
specialists and provide dental care at affordable cost," he said.

There are plans to open similar dental hospitals in other parts of India and
Asia Pacific region, but that will depend on the performance of the four initial
hospitals in south India, according to Dr Vijaykumar.

Besides creating a chain of dental hospitals, Dentistree wants to promote
dental tourism in India and bring online consultations for patients, he said.
-- BERNAMA