Apollo Hospitals to invest Rs 1,500 cr by 2014

Apollo Hospitals Group will invest Rs 1,500 crore for increasing the number of beds to about 11,500 by March 2014, according to the Chairman, Dr Prathap C. Reddy.
After inaugurating an oncology facility at Apollo Hospitals near here, he told pressperons that the healthcare major had added 800 beds last year in its 56 hospitals, which now have 9,000 beds.
With the opening of six new hospitals in 2012, it would have over 10,000 beds. It is also planning to add 60 new clinics to increase the same to 100 this year.
Cardiac clinic
In Gujarat, where Apollo Hospitals and Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd have a 50:50 partnership, the duo have decided to launch an additional cardiac clinic by July 2012 at an investment of Rs 15 crore. They are also considering to set up one or two more hospitals in Gujarat, he said.
The two partners are looking at setting up outpatient clinics in African countries like Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda as well.
Overseas foray
Asked about Apollo Hospitals’ overseas foray, Dr Reddy said that the Group has, after expanding its reach to Dubai, Mauritius and other places, “temporarily” decided to focus only on India. However, its super-specialty facility in Tanzania will increase the number of beds from the existing 300 to 500.
Replying to a question about the 1,300-strong Apollo Pharmacy chain, he said the Group has identified some potential investors abroad for setting up more such pharmacies in India once the FDI norms are eased by the Government.
Dr Reddy said the Group is expecting to get loans to the tune of Rs 600 crore for expansion this year. “We may also plan to add 4,000 beds next year during 2014-17.”