BPL's health care business, which is focussed on the diagnostic equipment, grew 41 per cent last year, while the sector expanded at 15-25 per cent. |
The company expects to grow at 30 per cent per annum in the coming years. |
This business for BPL has recorded a turnover of Rs 53.91 crore and an EBIDTA of Rs 14.39 crore for the 18 months ended September 30, 2003. |
According to the company, it continues to be a dominant player in ECG machines with over 70 per cent share in the segment. |
The company is also reaping the benefits of improved cost structures in this sector, and is realising that the volume of sales have started growing significantly after the rationalisation of prices of single channel machines. |
BPL is also gearing up to be part of this growing medical electronics market which is expected to achieve a market size of Rs 6,500 crore by 2005-06. |
The company is banking on the IT driven products which is expected to have an exponential growth, with substantial focus on tele-medicine and hospital management software. |
Said an industry analyst: "Private expenditure on health care has been the single fastest growing category of personal expenditure and is estimated to be growing at the rate of 27 per cent. Rapid growth of market would naturally attract more players. It will also hot up competition while the cost of equipment is also expected to rise. This would invariably necessitate responsive service network." BPL with its wide presence is simultaneously taking measures to strengthen and expand this network. |
In addition to this, BPL is also segmenting this market more precisely and is offering new products such as fetal doppler and fetal monitor which has helped the company to be in a position to supply package deal and establish presence in the gynecology segment. |
BPL is also putting in efforts to make an entry into the export market in SAARC countries and far east. |