Wockhardt Hospitals Group has established a formal agreement with the Philadelphia based CIGNA Insurance in India to accept direct payments from the Cigna International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) health plans.

Through this alliance, Cigna's expatriate members and its insured international travellers will have access to medical treatment at any of the Wockhardt Group of hospitals across India on a cashless system with direct payments and guarantees of payment from CIEB. The members can access all in-patient healthcare facilities at Wockhardt Hospitals including specialised surgeries in cardiology, orthopaedics, neurosurgery besides emergency care.

"In a globally changing healthcare world, alliances of this nature are significant for international patients to access quality healthcare services in India. Our long standing reputation for clinical excellence made an impact on Cigna to partner with us for the healthcare needs of their globally mobile members worldwide," said Vishal Bali, vice president, Wockhardt Hospitals Group.

Incidentally Cigna International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) is the world's largest provider of employer sponsored insurance plans for expatriate employees and their insured family members.

"This association enhances our network capabilities in this region while giving additional benefit to our members," said Markus Zettner, provider relations manager, CIEB.

Wockhardt Hospitals group is a leading super specialty healthcare delivery provider in India for the last 16 years. Currently it has six super speciality hospitals in India offering cardiology, orthopaedics, neurology, minimal access surgery and urology located at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Nagpur.

A 400-bed hospital in Bangalore will be commissioned in March 2006.It also offers joint replacements and hip resurfacing for patients from UK, the US and other countries in Europe, Africa, West Asia and South East Asia. It has embarked on a major expansion mode in India and abroad with another four hospitals under implementation. It is an associate of Harvard Medical International and also the first hospital group in South Asia to be recognised by the American Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in its worldwide network of participating hospitals.