B Braun sets up $ 3mn facility in Chennai

B Braun Medical India, a subsidiary of B Braun Melsungen AG, has announced a production facility in Chennai, which will be operational from January 31, 2007.

B Braun has invested around $3 million in the factory. The manufacturing plant is an advanced development and production centre for B Braun's blue-chip products. It will manufacture products for the Indian healthcare market.

The plant will be inaugurated by H C Ludwig Georg Braun, chairman of the B Braun Melsungen AG managing board, Germany. Stating that the factory was a key investment for the company, Braun stressed the importance of establishing an international production facility in India.

"The factory is a good opportunity to explore and expand existing possibilities in the industry and cater to the growing demand for quality healthcare products in the country," said Ananda K Naidu, managing director, B Braun Medical (I) Pvt Ltd.

B Braun will manufacture advanced right heart catheters (RHCs) at the factory, which would make the product easily available in the Indian market, according to a company release.

"As healthcare costs are on the rise, patients in the developed world are looking at the overseas market for medical treatment. India is capitalising on its low costs and highly trained doctors to appeal to these 'medical tourists'. According to industry reports, around 1.5 lakh medical tourists visited India for treatment in 2005 and the number is growing approximately 15 per cent every year. Thus, international accreditation for corporate hospitals in India and quality medical equipment are essential critera," added Naidu.