IHL to invest Rs 25 cr for upgradation of malar hospital

Chennai, Sep 13 (UNI) International Hospital Ltd (IHL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Ltd, a Ranbaxy promoter group company, which had made its maiden entry into South, by acquiriing the Malar Hospital, has proposed to pump in about Rs 25 crore for upgradation.

Talking to newspersons here, Director of Fortis Healthcare Daljit Singh said the company was planning to upgrade the rooms, operation theatres and other specialised areas in the multi-speciality hospital. ''There will be upgradation of facilities, which will be second to none in the city,'' he said, adding the company had also drawn up plans for its pan-India presence.

Fortis had plans to establish about 35 to 40 hospitals, totalling about 6,000 beds and involving a total investment of Rs 1,500 crore by 2010-2015, Mr Singh said. The company would have greater presence in the metros, while foraying into the tier-II cities, he said.

He said IHL, along with Oscar Investments Limited (OIL), had entered into an agreement for inter-alia, aquisition of equity shares of Malar Hospitals, which was focusing on comprehensive medical care in the areas of Gastroenterology, Neurology, Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Diabetics, Orthopaedics and Nephrology.

The whole-time Director of Malar Hospital Nithya Ramamurthy said the management had offered shares to Fortis as it was known for its quality of clinical and patient care.

''We are proud that Fortis will now own and manage this hospital.

The patients of Malar and the Southern region will gain immensely from the enhanced care which can now be assured,'' she said.

UNI