In a significant development nearly eight months after the acquisition, the AMRI Hospitals across eastern India have been rebranded as Manipal Hospitals. Manipal Hospitals, which acquired an 84 percent stake in AMRI Hospitals in September 2023 for approximately Rs 2,300 crore, announced this brand integration during a media briefing on Tuesday.
H Sudarshan Ballal, chairman of Manipal Hospitals, expressed enthusiasm about the integration of these two well-known brands. He emphasized that this move marks a new phase of growth and expansion for Manipal Hospitals in the eastern region of India. AMRI Hospitals previously operated three units in Kolkata and one in Bhubaneswar.
With the purchase of Columbia Asia Hospitals a few years ago, Manipal Hospitals made its foray into Kolkata. With the rebranding of AMRI Hospitals, Manipal has further cemented its position as the leading healthcare delivery provider in eastern India. This was a calculated move.
The importance of this integration was emphasized by Manipal Hospitals’ managing director and CEO, Dilip Jose. He mentioned that Manipal’s first foray into Kolkata through Columbia Asia opened the door for subsequent growth. Manipal has made a significant impact in the area with the establishment of four Manipal Hospitals in Kolkata, one in Bhubaneswar, and a 500-bed teaching hospital in Gangtok.
Jose restated that the largest healthcare provider in eastern India currently operates under the name Manipal Hospitals. The recent announcement of a legally binding deal to purchase an 87 percent ownership in the hospital chain Medica Synergie, based in Kolkata, indicates that this expansion will continue. Manipal will expand its presence even more with this acquisition, which is anticipated to be finished in the upcoming month, adding two hospitals in Siliguri, one in Ranchi, and one in Kolkata. Manipal’s standing in the eastern healthcare industry will be greatly strengthened by this.
The observation that many patients from the eastern region travel to other cities like Bengaluru and Delhi for medical care forms the strategic basis for this expansion. Jose emphasized how crucial it is to provide access to high-quality healthcare locally so that patients don’t have to go far for care. Manipal Hospitals seeks to ensure convenience and accessibility by offering first-rate medical care closer to patients’ residences.
With the acquisition of Medica Synergie, Manipal will have more than 10,500 hospital beds. Manipal will also be able to accommodate an additional 1,100 beds thanks to four greenfield projects that are already under construction: three in Bengaluru and one in Raipur. These developments are a reflection of Manipal Hospitals’ dedication to expanding its network and infrastructure throughout India.
An important stage in Manipal’s plan to take the lead in providing healthcare in eastern India is the renaming of AMRI Hospitals as Manipal Hospitals. Along with current and planned initiatives and acquisitions, the combination of these well-known brands positions Manipal Hospitals for substantial development and improved service delivery in the area. With this growth, the local population’s healthcare needs will be met and high-quality medical care will be easily accessible without requiring long trips.
SOURCE:
MEDICAL DIALOGUES
