Max Healthcare to set up India's first brain lab

Max Healthcare, a subsidiary of Max India group with interests in insurance and healthcare, is setting up India's first brain laboratory in Max Devki Devi Hospital in New Delhi.

The laboratory will specialise in neuroscience and neurosurgery.Max is also looking to add a whole new block catering to orthopaedics and joint replacement, advanced pediatrics and obstretics and minimal invasive surgery in the multi-specialty hospital.

Having earmarked Rs 600 crore for establishing its footprint as a major healthcare player in India, Max plans to set up hospitals in Noida and Gurgaon in a year's time. At present, it has six hospitals and two clinics in Delhi.

Commenting on the first phase of expansion, Executive Director- Medical Services, Narottam Puri said, "Till 2006, we are looking at NCR like a horse with blinkers but thereafter we will move over to other parts of country and even overseas."

While they have several active proposals under consideration for hospital laboratory management and even acquisitions, Puri adds that their underlying belief in the organic growth model hasn't changed.

Max Healthcare, which has seen an investment of Rs 140 crore from Warburg Pincus this year (amounting to a 23 per cent stake), intends to be the first integrated system in India.

With a 'hub-and-spoke model' in mind with four levels of care, there will be basic centres called 'Max Implant' in the offices of organisations, primary level healthcare centres (Dr Max™ Clinics), secondary (Max Medcentre™ and Secondary Care Hospitals) and tertiary 'end to end' care sites (Multi-Specialty and Super Specialty Hospitals).

Organisations like Spectramind and National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) already have such a 'Max Implant' and more are likely to follow.

Telemedicine is another field into which Max Healthcare is making a foray in a big way. With six locations in various states like UP, Manipur, Bihar, Haryana and MP already connected, the company is looking for more.

Puri deems it to be both 'a great business potential from overseas and domestically' and 'a tool to serve the social cause of millions in rural areas'.

This is borne out by Max's Chief Technology Officer , Pabitra Paul who estimates their total investments in the field to be around Rs 1.5 crore, while the direct and indirect revenues flowing back to the company are almost Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 6 crore respectively.