Fortis Healthcare Limited, has announced a 200 bedded Greenfield project in Ludhiana and an addition of a 100 bedded hospital in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Both these hospitals are being set up under the 'asset light model' where the land and building will be taken on lease and would lead to improved capital efficiency at Fortis.

These expansions into newer geographies are in line with the company’s plan to improve accessibility to affordable quality healthcare in vibrant markets which are healthcare deficient, according to the healthcare major.

The tertiary care hospital at Ludhiana will be Fortis’s third hospital in Punjab following the ones in Mohali and Amritsar. The facility Spread over an area of approx 3.5 acres, is expected to be commissioned in 18 to 24 months.

The hospital at Kangra would be with a local associate and is a maiden entry in Himachal Pradesh. The facility has a provision to be expanded to 200 beds. And is located on the main road connecting Kangra to Dharamshala, McLeodganj and Palampur. The hospital will become operational this year itself.

According to Shivinder M Singh, managing director Fortis Healthcare, these efforts are a demonstration of the Group's intention to bring quality & affordable healthcare to the region.

The Kangra Hospital would provide much needed respite to the people of Himachal Pradesh, part of Punjab and part of J&K, who had to go all the way to Ludhiana or Chandigarh or even Delhi to get treated. “We have seen many people losing their lives for want of timely care. Setting up of this hospital would not only bring quality healthcare at the door steps of the people but it would also help the people of this region to get timely care at affordable prices. They need not spend money on travel, lodging and boarding outside of their native place any more,” he added.

Fortis has developed a cost effective standardized model to bring to smaller cities and this will be implemented in both the hospitals.