Bipha Drug Laboratories, one of the oldest pharmaceutical and ayurvedic drug manufacturers in Kerala, is planning to foray into new avenues of healthcare delivery, leveraging the advantages of ayurveda. The company will soon set up health spas in the Middle East region, besides substantial market expansion for Bipha's drugs in the region.

As part of this, Bipha has restructured its business divisions into three categories, single herbs range with capsules and tablets, herbionics and cosmetics for personal and body care.

"We are planning to start full-fledged operations of the health spa in Middle East by the mid 2006. The spas will be set up as joint ventures with companies in the Arab region. We are in the process of tying up with hotels, hospitals and business groups for this. These health and wellness centers, branded purely as 'health spas', will have a contemporary outlook and support of ancient knowledge," Ajay George Varghese, director, Bipha Drug Laboratories told Pharmabiz.

Varghese said that the company was looking for joint partners from the region for marketing the products in various Middle East countries. This is also part of a brand building exercise. Bipha will introduce products from its herbionics division in Middle East countries very soon.

The company is planning to foray into production of nutritional supplements by the month of April 2006. Four products have been identified and the new division will commence by 1st April 2006, informed Ajay. Another two products will follow the first four products, within some months as several new product developments are in pipeline.