VPS acquires Rs10 billion stakes in Indian healthcare firms

dubai - Group buys majority stakes in Rockland hospitals in National Capital Region and Lakeshore Hospital in Kerala

UAE-based VPS Healthcare has made its India foray by acquiring majority stakes in Rockland hospitals in Manesar, Qutub and Dwaraka (National Capital Region) and Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi, Kerala.

The Abu Dhabi-headquartered VPS said it is investing more than Rs10 billion, one of the largest investments in the healthcare sector in the recent past. The group will also soon establish a high-end tertiary care institution in Noida.

With a combined bed strength of over 1,000 beds in specialised tertiary care in India, the company is expected to play a significant role in enhancing patient experience and quality of service in Indian healthcare by adopting global best practices, VPS said.

VPS Healthcare has under its ambit 16 hospitals and more than 100 primary care medical centres spread across the Middle East.

VPS Healthcare boasts a large number of medical experts from North America, Australia and Europe who are known for providing quality care using adequate mix of technology, skill and care to patients. The company has to its credit pharmaceutical export licences to many developed countries. The company's collaboration with highly acclaimed universities in the US helps it to regularly upgrade technology and inculcate global best practices in its institutions.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and managing director, VPS Healthcare, said the investment climate in India is very conducive. "With over 20 per cent of the global disease burden, exploding epidemic of non-communicable disease and ever-increasing gap in providing quality healthcare, India became a natural choice for our expansion. India now needs quality healthcare that is available in advanced countries, as people are no longer willing to ignore disease in the family and are willing to pay. We will strive to achieve this through adopting appropriate technology, global expertise and skill. Our endeavour is to achieve higher standards of patient safety."

"We hope to raise the bar in quality and patient safety. Our presence will strengthen private healthcare in India, which is the major player as of now."

The company will reposition the hospitals as VPS-Lakeshore and VPS-Rockland besides strengthening infrastructure. The immediate focus will be to develop operational strategies to focus on creating value for patients.

- issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com