Fortis Healthcare Ltd has made an entry into Karnataka's healthcare sector by taking a majority stake in the Bangalore based Apollo RM Hospital. The hospital is renamed as Fortis Hospital, Seshadripuram after the stake acquisition.

The announcement is in line with Fortis's plan to replicate its model to establish a network of super-specialty "centres of excellence" and multi-specialty hospitals to deliver quality healthcare to patients across the country. This will be Fortis's second project in South India after its investment in Malar Hospitals Limited in Chennai.

Fortis Hospital, Seshadripuram has 100 beds which is expandable to 200 beds. It is a multi-specialty hospital situated in the well located Seshadripuram area of central Bangalore and has a Centre of Excellence in Advanced Urology with specialized facilities for Urology, Nephrology and related specialties.

The hospital also provides comprehensive range of services in the areas of renal sciences, general surgery, plastic surgery, oncology, gastroenterology, internal medicine, gynaecology and obstetrics, orthopaedic & trauma care, dentistry, psychiatry, ophthalmology, dermatology, neurology, ENT, neurosurgery and preventive health checkup. Besides, it also has a diet clinic, dialysis centre, comprehensive physiotherapy department, 24 hours emergency care, 24 hours ambulance service, diagnostics, comprehensive lab medicine, radiology and a 24 hours pharmacy.

Fortis will leverage its expertise to further strengthen the existing medical programme, upgrade and expand the facility, add new specialties and replicate its operating systems to provide superior medical and patient care.

According to Shivinder Mohan Singh, CEO and managing director, Fortis Healthcare Limited said, "We are pleased to announce our entry into the vibrant capital of Karnataka. This is a step forward to realize our vision of becoming a strong national player and brings the Fortis brand of healthcare to the people of the state. Southern and Western India shall continue to be focus of our network expansion plans."

Fortis Healthcare Ltd was incorporated in 1996. Based in Delhi, FHL, which acquired Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre Limited in September 2005, has operations in Delhi, Jaipur, Noida, Mohali (Chandigarh), Amritsar, Faridabad, Chennai and Raipur. It currently has a network of 25 hospitals.