Manipal To Open 100 Cure & Care Stores

EHM News Bureau

Manipal Health Systems (MHS), Asia's largest hospital management group, is making a retail foray with plans to open over 100 healthcare stores across India in the next two years. A comprehensive healthcare retail brand 'Manipal Cure & Care' (MCC) will be launched through a joint venture partnership with Pantaloon Retail (India) Limited, the retailing leaders that manage the Central, Big Bazaar and Food Bazaar malls.

The consultations include all basic specialties such as general medicine, paediatrics, ENT, dermatology, ophthalmology and sports medicine. Dr Ranjan Pai, CEO, Manipal Education and Medical Group said, "India's healthcare industry is today recognised world over and is poised to represent the country parallel to IT sector. Manipal has strong fundamentals and brand equity in healthcare and we will ride the retailing wave sweeping India for accelerated growth. MCC stores are a new and innovative model bringing healthcare delivery out of hospitals and clinics into a mall environment.

The joint venture, formed at an initial investment of INR 10 crore, will be headquartered in Bangalore and the first MCC store will come up on a 7,000 square feet space on Old Madras Road, Bangalore. Existing pharmacies of both companies will now come under the ambit of MCC. For the first time, the comprehensive healthcare stores will alsoe available in shopping malls, enhancing access to healthcare.