The Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore, is now scouting for two or three potential medical centres in the city for an acquisition or a joint venture alliance. The decision to acquire small and medium sized hospitals comes in as a part of the Hospitals' Group strategy to replicate its excellence in healthcare across Bangalore.

Discussing about the need to expand its expertise across the city, VP Kamath, chief executive officer, Apollo Hospitals Bangalore stated that, it is crucial to pursue organic and inorganic routes for growth. The roadmap for growth is to explore opportunities and add value.

As part of its inorganic growth initiatives, last year, the Apollo Hospital Bangalore entered into a strategic alliance with RM Hospital in the city known for its urology care. Post the alliance pact, a 100-bed Apollo RM Hospital, a multi specialty medical centre was created to offer the required secondary care. "There is a need to increase our presence going by the healthcare requirements in Bangalore and we are looking at any medical centre which has a single specialty expertise," he added.

The organic route plan is to set up a greenfield project, for which Apollo Bangalore has been on the look out for land either at Hebbal and Whitefield in the city.

"The key objective of such an expansion is because Bangalore will shortly become the healthcare capital of India. There are several leading corporate hospitals here and more are coming up like Global Hospitals and One World. Also Fortis and Reliance are toying with the idea to invest here. Apollo wants to capitalize on its expertise and technology by increasing its reach across the city, informed Kamath.

The Apollo Hospitals Bangalore is an advanced facility on par with world class standards with a panel of well-known specialists. This flagship hospital is equipped with Thallium Laser, a first in India, Holmium Laser, a first in South India and Digital X-Ray, the first in Karnataka. There are also other state-of-the-art installations including Low energy and high energy Linear Accelerators, Navigation System for accurate surgical procedures, 4-D Ultrasound for 4-dimensional sonography and Gamma Camera.

The multi-specialty Hospital, is known for its six super specialties: cardiology, neurology-neuro surgery, orthopaedics, surgical-medical gastroenterology, oncology and ENT. It is offering not only cochlear implants but also BAHA (bone aided hearing assistance).

The hospital will also apply for a JCI accreditation by the end of Q2 this year because the international certification agency mandates data of five months before going through the audit process. The Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ludhiana are already JCI accredited. Apollo Hospitals Bangalore will also go in for a formal inauguration in May.

There are also three Apollo Clinics in Bangalore at Koramangala, Malleswaram, and Bellandur to support the main hospital on Bannerghatta Road.