Apollo hospitals to invest Rs 300 cr in health in India

Ahmedabad, Feb 23 (UNI) Healthcare giant Apollo Hospitals group is planning to invest Rs 300 crore to build up world-class health facilities in India by the end of the next financial year.

Out of the total amount, Rs 100 crore will be invested in western India -- consisting of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh -- group's corporate development president Anil K Maini told mediapersons here yesterday.

Mr Maini said the group will set up two hospitals of about 75-100 beds at Rajkot and Udaipur at a cost of Rs 20 crore each. The group is also planning to set up oncology (cancer) centre at Gandhinagar at a cost of Rs 40 crore.

Beside these, it is considering to set up 20 telemedicine centres and 20 pharmacy centres in Gujarat, Rajasthan and MP, he said and added that a nursing school and paramedical training and administrative college is also under consideration.

The group has also signed an MoU with US health giant John-Hopkinson for clinical research in the field of cardiac, HIV, stem cells and other medical fields and developments of the medical devices, Mr Maini said.

Apollo hospital CEO Dr Alexander Kuruvilla said the group is negotiating with milk giant Amul, Torrent Power and other big corporates of the state to set up health cover for its consumers or members on the lines of Karnataka, where all persons were covered for medical facilities at a cost of Rs 100-120 per person per annum.

Dr Alexander said they are also negotiating with the Gujarat government to cover the BPL families under the scheme.

UNI MP PDS VP0423