GNRC to ink deal with Dubai-based company

Guwahati, Oct 30(UNI) The Guwahati Neurological Research Centre (GNRC) is all set to enter into a strategic tie-up with the Dubai-based D M Healthcare Group, a leading health care provider in UAE, for realising its massive expansion plans.

GNRC Chariaman&Managing Director Dr Nomal Bora told newspersons on the sidelines of a press meet that the talks were in the final stage, in this regard.

''We wanted to go for an IPO. But we have decided to abort it as the equity market has not been positive. We will look for other avenues'' he said.

The India Development Fund is the investment vehicle through which the DM health care group will enter into the strategic tie-up.

Dr Bora, however, remain tightlipped when asked about the percentage of share, which would be divested in favour of DM health care in the deal The deal has been considered as one of the biggest FDIs in Assam.

''We are raising more than Rs 100 crore with the deal. We have huge expansion plans of setting up a GNRC-type hospital in every district of Assam'' said Dr Bora.

The DM Healthcare Pvt Ltd, the new Indian venture of the UAE-based Dr Moopen's Group, has already announced its plans to set up a ''Medcity'' in Kochi, apart from venturing into northeastern India.

The GNRC is a 165-bed multi-specialty ISO-9002 certified hospital at Guwahati, promoted by renowned neurosurgeon Dr Nomal Chandra Bora, which is one of the two well known private health care facilities of the region.

It houses state-of-the-art equipment, intensive care units and seven operation theatres, apart from providing 24-hours emergency services.

The health unit also features histopathology, immunology, biochemistry, microbiology, and non-invasive cardiac labs.

The GNRC has opened 30 retails shops all over Guwahati city.

Meanwhile, the total investment to develop the 2,500-bed Medcity at Kochi had been pegged at Rs 1,500 crore and the infrastructure facilities would be ready by 2010 during the first phase of the project, a top official of DM health care informed.

''The Medcity, which will come up on a land area of one million sq ft, will have a 500-bed anchor hospital as the fulcrum with about 10 smaller hospitals of 100-200 beds for individual specialties in a spacious and master planned campus,'' he elaborated.

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