Fortis Healthcare, a subsidiary of Ranbaxy group, is planning to set up hospitals at different locations in the country with a total investment of Rs 1,000 crore. The first phase of the project would be completed in four years. The company is also planning to diversify into the management of hospitals soon.

Shivinder Mohan Singh, Executive Director of Fortis Healthcare, said in Hyderabad, "We have Rs 1,000 crore in investment plans in the first phase, which will last around four years. After that we will go in for a investment plan, which can be anything from leasing options to an initial public offer (IPO)."

He said the company was also getting several offers for the management of hospitals, but "We are waiting for the right partner since it is a big commitment."

Fortis started its first super-speciality hospital at Mohali last year with an investment of Rs 155 crore. It is one of the first Indian hospitals to go in for hub-and-spoke model. " We want to give standardised care to patients in all our units. This is not possible in the franchisee model. In the hub-and-spoke model, we will be able to offer similar care and in an emergency, if expert opinion is required it can be availed from the hub through telemedicine and videoconferencing," he said.

The Mohali hospital will be the hub for around 8-10 spoke hospitals Fortis is planning in Himachal, Haryana and Punjab.