Fortis to open 25 low cost hospitals under new brand in 3 yrs

While the company has not finalised the name of the new brand, a Fortis Healthcare spokesperson said:"The low cost hospitals will be high-end secondary care and low-end tertiary hospitals."

The company which has been in expansion mode has added eight hospitals in the network, including three large new facilities in the metro cities during the past year.

Speaking on the occasion, Fortis Healthcare (India) MD Shivinder Mohan Singh said: "We could not have imagined then that, 10 years along the line, Fortis would grow to become a pan-India network, with over 50 hospitals and plans for several more".

The company also has eight new projects in pipeline that would add 2,000 bed capacity to the group's existing strength in the next 18-24 months, Fortis said.

"We will continue to focus on making reliable and affordable healthcare accessible to all," Singh added.

Singh also said Fortis Healthcare is interested in entering medical eduction in India, but the existing policies are preventing it from making a foray into the sector.

At present the healthcare chain has a total of 56 hospitals across India with a capacity of over 8,000 beds.

Shares of Fortis Healthcare (India) were today trading at Rs 159.55 in the afternoon trade on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), up 1.53 per cent from its previous close.