KOCHI, 5 April 2008 — Dubai-based Dr. Moopen’s Group has announced plans to set up ‘MedCity”, a complex of hospitals and allied services spread over 30 acres, in the port city of Kochi. The project aims at targeting the growing number of medical tourists to the southern Indian state.
“We hope to start construction on the Rs15 billion project within six months. With 2.5 million sq. ft. builtup area, the MediCity will have a large 500-bed anchor hospital as the fulcrum and around it some ten smaller hospitals of 100 to 200 beds for specialties in a spacious well-laid master-planned campus,” group’s chairman Dr. Azad Moopen said.
The group, which hopes to complete the first phase by 2010, has approached the state government for single-window clearance for the project.
“The availability of comprehensive international-quality health care facilities in the state will improve access to the most sophisticated treatments locally. It will also elevate Kerala to a higher pedestal in delivery of advanced hi-tech treatment in a serene ambience,” Dr. Moopen told reporters.
The group has set up its Indian arm called DM Healthcare Ltd., with India Value Fund Advisers as a strategic partner for the MedCity. About one-third of the investments will come from DM Healthcare while the remaining would come from national and international health care operators coming onboard who will also bring in expertise and technology.
“We have already acquired about 20 acres of land near the Airport-Seaport road and are looking for another ten acres. We are also in talks with major players in India and abroad to run the specialty hospitals in the MedCity,” he said.
The project is expected to generate 15,000 jobs for doctors, nursing and paramedical staff. Kerala, which is already attracting some 100,000 overseas medical tourists a year, hopes to increase the number to 500,000 by 2012.
“We are already receiving a good number of tourists for Ayurveda treatment but have not taken off well in case of illness-related health tourism. The MedCity will act as a catalyst to trigger this flow and Kochi is expected to become a gateway for medical tourists to the country,” he said.
“Patients from Middle East, Europe, USA and the rest of the world will start coming to Kerala once there’s a facility available because of the huge cost advantage”.
The group, which registered a turnover of Rs5 billion last year, has a network of about 50 establishments in the Gulf, including two hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. It also runs the Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) in Kozhikode and another 300-bed hospital is expected to open at nearby Kottakkal in six months.
The group is also looking at acquiring three hospitals in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra this year. Acquisition of hospitals has also been planned in UP and Rajasthan, Dr. Moopen added.
Kochi Metro Rail Project to Start Next Month
Work on the Rs30.48 billion Kochi Metro Rail will begin next month and would be ready for public use in three years, according to M. Vijayakumar, Kerala minister in charge of rail transport.
“As the rail runs overhead, only about 26 hectares of land will be required. Of this, 16 acres is of private ownership. Within a year, the necessary land acquisition can be completed,” Vijayakumar told the state assembly.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is implementing the project on the public-private-partnership model through a special purpose vehicle, in which the state government will hold 15 percent equity (Rs4.5 billion) in the new entity.
Kochi Metro rail is planned in the 26 km stretch between Tripunithura and Aluva in the first phase and it can be extended to the international airport at Nedumbassery later.
“We have noticed that the width of National Highway may get affected when the concrete pillars are set up for the elevated light rail. Some technical solution for this problem will be thrashed out soon,” the minister said.
