Fortis Healthcare Limited, after setting up Fortis Heart Institute & Multi-Speciality Hospital at Mohali and Fortis Multi-Speciality Hospital at Amritsar, is setting up a Multi-Speciality Hospital at Noida and has firmed up plans to set up a cancer hospital at Delhi and medical centers in the Northern region.

The upcoming Multi-Speciality Hospital at Noida with 350 bed capacity will provide medical treatment in various areas including cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, general surgery etc. As of now, 60 per cent of construction work has been completed. The hospital is to start its operations in the second half of 2004. An investment of Rs. 150 crore is to be made by the company for setting up this hospital.

Fortis is using an unique ' hub and spoke model'. Its first 'hub' was set up at Mohali and the second is to come up at Noida. The hospital at Noida acting as a 'hub' is to link the company's proposed medical centers at Delhi (around three to four centers), Agra, Mathura, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar.

The company is planning to set up a 400-bed cancer hospital at Delhi for which the investment may be in the tune of Rs. 100- Rs. 150 crore. The company is yet to finalise the site. The hospital is likely to be operational by the year 2006.

The company has also proposed to set up new medical centers at Bhatinda, Saharanpur, Dehradun, Shimla and Jammu which are to be linked to Mohali. An investment of around Rs. 10 - Rs. 12 crore is to be made on each center. These centers are likely to come up by mid 2004.

"Fortis with its patient-centric services and hub & spoke approach has a competitive edge over other key medical care companies. It has invested in the world's most sophisticated diagnostic and clinical testing equipment, so that doctors are provided with the accuracy in test results that enables them to diagnose patients better. And with its unmatcheable world-class facilities, it stands alone as a leader", said a senior official speaking to Pharmabiz.com.