Fortis to open 50 standalone dialysis centres in 2 yrs

Fortis Healthcare (India) today said it plans to invest up to Rs 30 crore to set up 50 standalone dialysis centres across the country in the next two years for treatment of patients suffering from kidney failure.

In the first phase, the company plans to set up six centres across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), while the remainder would come up in other metros and Tier-II and III cities.

"Our target is 50 centres in the next two years. Depending upon the varied locations across the country, the investment per centre would be in the range of Rs 50-60 lakh," Fortis Healthcare (India) CEO Aditya Vij told reporters here.

The company today launched its first standalone dialysis centre in Delhi. The centres would be set up under the brand name, 'Renkare'.

"With Renkare, we will establish a pan-India network of standalone centres that will offer a high quality, convenient and relaxed experience to dialysis patients," Vij added.

According to industry estimates, 8 lakh people suffer from end stage renal disease (ESRD) in India currently, a number which is expected to increase to nearly 9.5 lakh by 2015.

"Our mission is to provide a network of quality dialysis centres to the growing populace with kidney failure. We will start with major metros and expand the network to Tier-II and III cities, where access to care is most needed, but often unavailable," Renkare CEO Varun Sethi said.

Fortis Healthcare (India) commissioned its first hospital in 2011 and now has a network of 68 hospitals, with an over 10,000-bed capacity, across the country.

Shares of the company were being quoted at Rs 112.05 apiece in afternoon trade on the BSE today, down 0.97 per cent from their previous close.