Manipal Health Enterprises (MHE) which runs a country-wide hospital chain under the brand Manipal Hospitals, has now invested Rs.40 crore to provide Andrology & Reproductive services partnering with Ankur Healthcare, a speciality Centre for Reproductive Medicine - IVF, Andrology and Men’s Health. The new venture will be known as Manipal–Ankur Andrology & Reproductive Services (MAARS).

Ankur is spearheaded by Dr Vasan SS, who will lead the new entity as CEO and medical director and Dr Bina Vasan who would head the Reproductive Medicine Division.

Commenting on the partnership, Rajen Padukone, managing director and chief executive officer, Manipal Health Enterprises said that by investing in Ankur Healthcare, it now forays into allied healthcare delivery formats with Andrology and Reproductive Services. Our focus on allied healthcare delivery formats will ensure that key traits like quality, technology, ethical practice and affordable care, values will continue as top priority. MAARS would be one of a kind venture that would create a chain of specialty hospitals focusing on Andrology reproductive medicine and men’s health in the country. This MAARS would expand from the existing four centres to 12 over the next 18-24 months, with new centres located in existing hospitals of MHE, standalone centres in Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, Indore, Chandigarh, etc. as well as setting up such facilities within other hospitals, said Dr Vasan.

MHE manages 5,000 beds among 15 hospitals, over 11 locations across five states in India. The network of hospitals covers all levels of delivery from primary to quaternary care. Its healthcare skill pool consists of 2,000 doctors and 6,000 nurses, paramedics and support staff. The hospital network treats two million patients in India and from abroad.