Fortis plans to set up 200 health stores

Fortis Healthworld , a 24 hour complete healthcare product provider, will soon start the first phase of its national roll-out.The company promoted by the Ranbaxy Group, plans to set up over 200 health stores in west and south India over the next year or so.

Fortis Healthworld, which has 30 outlets in New Delhi and its suburbs, will start at least 20 stores in Mumbai by June this year. It is also in the process of opening another 30 stores in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh within the next three months.

"Major metros in these regions like Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Bangalore will also come under the first phase roll out planned at an investment of over Rs 200 crore", said Ashish Kirpal Pandit, chief executive officer. The company is in the process of investing in back-end services like warehouses, stock points and IT infrastructure to support the planned roll out, he added.

The company will sell prescription and over the counter drugs, ayurveda and homeopathy drugs, diagnostic kits, fast moving health and consumer goods and pathology services. It plans to start over 1000 such stores covering 400 Indian cities with an investment of Rs 800 crore by 2012.

The company is also in talks with a retail major to set up Fortis Healthworld stores in their retail outlets. "We have shortlisted two companies and talks are in advanced stages with one chain, but it is premature to give details"Pandit said.

Commenting on the planned foray into the rural areas, Pandit said the company plans to start over 150 rural stores in different parts of the country. A pilot project will take off at Mandi Ahmedgarh next month, in association with Hariyali Kisaan Bazaar, part of the DCM Shriram Consolidated Group. These stores will additionally offer a rural health centre with doctors and paramedics with telemedicine connectivity to the network of Fortis-Escort hospitals.

"We will soon launch another value-added services like home nurse facility on request, a first of its kind service from the organised health care delivery sector, utilising the trained hands available in the chain of hospitals under our group," said Vishal Mishra, head, marketing of Fortis Healthworld.

Services like prescription reminder calls and home delivery of ordered drugs and products at quick speed are attracting more customers to its existing 30 stores. Already Fortis Healthworld has issued over 50,000 loyalty cards, he said.