Fortis Malar to operate, manage East Coast Hospital

Fortis Malar Hospitals today said it has signed an agreement with Puducherry-based East Coast Hospital to operate and manage it.

Fortis Malar, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare, said as part of the agreement East Coast Hospital Chairman Murugesan will retain ownership of the hospital.

With this initiative Fortis Healthcare has expanded its presence in South India adding to the existing facilities in Chennai and Bangalore, Fortis Malar Hospitals said in a statement.

"This addition is in line with our strategic objectives to expand our reach and provide access to quality healthcare to communities in India's smaller towns at affordable costs," Fortis Healthcare CEO Bhavdeep Singh said.

Subsequently, East Coast Hospital has been rechristened as 'Fortis East Coast Hospital', and there are plans to raise the bed capacity from the present 100 to 250 beds, it said.

East Coast Hospital, a multi-speciality centre, plans to expand its medical programmes by upgrading its services.    Commenting on the development, East Coast Hospital Chairman Murugesan said: "We are happy to join hands with Fortis Healthcare, India's leading healthcare provider, in an effort to improve the quality and width of medical care being provided in Pondicherry."

Fortis commissioned its first hospital in 2001 at Mohali, near Chandigarh, and has since expanded its operations to cover 52 hospitals around the country with nearly 8000 bed capacity.

Shares of Fortis Malar Hospitals today closed at Rs 34.8 on the Bombay Stock Exchange, down 1.28 per cent from its previous close.