Columbia Asia launches first hospital in Gujarat.

International hospitals chain, Columbia Asia recently announced commissioning of its first hospital in Gujarat and eleventh in the country. The 110-bed hospital will be equipped to provide tertiary care services.

At a time when chains of private multi-specialty hospitals coming up across the state, Columbia Asia looks to provide international-quality healthcare services joined with nursing services that follow international protocols to provide care and attention to the patient.

Speaking to the media in Ahmedabad on recently, Tufan Ghosh, chief executive office (CEO), maintained that considering the potential in the India's healthcare sector, the hospital chain looks at about 18-22 per cent growth in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBIDTA) in the coming years.

Columbia Asia Hospitals is the first hospitals chain in India to utilize 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the hospital sector. The company has long-term PE investors in the US.

Columbia Asia has further laid out ambitious expansion plans for the next four years with an investment outlay of about Rs. 900 crore (US $ 150 million) in the Asian region. The company plans to open three 150-160 bed hospitals in India at Bangalore, Pune and National Capital Region. Also on the cards are three hospitals in Malaysia and two in Indonesia.



HBL