Fortis Healthcare (India) Ltd. today unveiled its plan to launch six new hospitals in Southern and Western India. With these additions, Fortis marks its entry into four new cities: Pune, Hyderabad, Indore and Jabalpur. Two new hospitals in the metro cities of Bengaluru and Chennai will strengthen Fortis’ existing presence and augment its healthcare infrastructure.

Speaking on the occasion, Aditya Vij, chief executive officer, Fortis Healthcare (India) Ltd. said, “This announcement honours the ‘10 hospitals in 10 weeks’ commitment that we made when Fortis celebrated its tenth anniversary a month ago. The expansion is in line with our strategy to make high quality, affordable healthcare accessible across the country - by strengthening our presence in large cities and initiating penetration in smaller towns. This entry into newer geographies will help address the pressing need for quality healthcare services in India’s smaller cities.”

The addition of these six new projects will increase Fortis’ bed capacity by 1400 beds to 9700 beds. All the new hospitals, with the exception of Hyderabad, will be set up/operated under the asset light model.

The tertiary care hospital at Pune and super-speciality hospitals in Chennai are expected to commence operations in 2012. The hospital projects at Hyderabad and Indore are in an advanced stage of planning and are preparing to submit architectural plans to the local authorities for approval.

The 100 bed boutique hospital in the heart of Bengaluru will be made operational in early 2012 and will offer a comprehensive medical programme focused on women under the “Fortis La Femme” brand. In addition, it will house a state-of-the-art Urology centre. The Cardiac Care Centre at Jabalpur will provide interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery.

The multi-specialty and super-specialty hospitals, whether Greenfield, Brownfield or Operated & Managed, will embrace international standards of healthcare services and offer the very latest technology and medical procedures in the areas of cardiac care, neuro sciences, orthopaedics, oncology and renal sciences, among other specialties.