First healthcare SEZ to go onstream in Jan 2011

Frontier Mediville, first healthcare special economic zone (SEZ) in the country, which is being set up Frontier Lifeline Hospital, go on stream in January 2011. The first phase of the project, with an investment of around Rs 200 crore, will come up at Elavoor, near Chennai.

Total investment, to develop the SEZ, which will spread over in 360 acre of land, will include medical science park, medical college and a 1,000 bedded bio-hospital and total investment would be around Rs 1,000 crore said K M Cherian, chairman and CEO, Frontier Lifeline.

The first phase comprising of a training centre, basic research facility and an animal house for clinical trial services would be ready for operation by first week of January, next year. The second and third phases would be completed in due course with an investment of Rs 400 crore each.

“We are relying completely on bank loans for investment in the project. The emphasis in research will be on technologies like nano technology and stem cells,” said Cherian. At present, the hospital runs its research activities in TICEL Biotech Park, Taramani, Chennai. It has so far bagged two patents along with filings completed for another eight patents with the Indian Patent Office, he added.

With establishment of the research lab in Mediville, the hospital would also expand its operations as contract research organisation (CRO). The facility is designed with a large animal facility, where canine and large animals would be available for clinical trials. It is also planning to develop a cord blood banking centre, facilities to develop non reactive biological dressing, bovine pericardium and porcine pulmonary artery to use in cardiac patients.

Frontier Lifeline has two hospitals, one each in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The firm is expected to clock around Rs 85 crore in the current fiscal.