May finalise Khazanah cooperation framework in 2 mths: Apollo

Chennai-based Apollo Hospitals today said it could finalise a framework for cooperation with Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah in areas like healthcare education and management in the next two months.

"In 30-60 days, something concrete may come out," Apollo Hospitals Executive Director Sangita Reddy told reporters on the sidelines of the Technopak Health Forum here.

She said Apollo has been holding discussions with Khazanah on cooperation in a number of areas.
    
"We are exploring synergies with Khazanah in various fields. There is education... Areas in management and then potentially different paramedical developments. So there are many areas in healthcare that
 Need to be worked together," Reddy said.
    
Apollo has had a relationship since 2005 with Khazanah, which holds around a 12 per cent stake in it.
    
Apollo Hospitals offers a variety of courses, including nursing education and medical courses, besides operating one of the largest hospital chains in the country. It currently has 9,000 beds at its hospitals.
    
As per its expansion plans, the company will increase its bed capacity to 12,000 by 2015. It also plans to have a total workforce of 85,000 employees.