Malaysian healthcare chain Columbia Asia plans to invest USD 150 million (nearly Rs 914 crore) to open eight hospitals, including three in India, by 2018 as part of its expansion programme.
The company that currently has 27 facilities across Malaysia, India, Vietnam and Indonesia is targeting a network to 34 hospitals and one clinic by 2018.
"India has been an important market for Columbia Asia, of the current 27 operational units, India has 11 of them. Hence India will receive a fair share of the 150 million USD for the planned hospitals," Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt Ltd CEO Tufan Ghosh told PTI.
In the next four years, the company will open 8 more hospitals: three in Malaysia, three in India and two in Indonesia.
The new hospitals will have approximately 160 beds each. Columbia Asia's strategy is to create clusters of hospitals in large urban areas.
"This allows us to serve patients in these markets by being known as a familiar brand and being able to leverage resources across our facilities," he added.
The Kuala Lumpur-headquartered chain started operations in India in 2005 and has 11 hospitals. The group has presence in Bangalore, Mysore, Kolkata, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, Patiala, Ahemadabad and Pune.
