The healthcare venture of Reliance-Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group (R-ADAG) Medybiz is in discussions with leading global disease management solution providers such as Medco Health Solutions and US-based Healthways for strategic tie-ups as part of the firm’s pan-India roll out plans within three months.
Sources said that the Reliance Health-promoted disease management company has initiated exploratory talks with these companies for tie-up to introduce their global standard chronic disease care practices for diabetes, cardiovascular, central nervous system disorders, cancer and other diseases in India.
Further, the company is also in talks with insurance majors such as Cigna Corp and Aetna of the US for health insurance services, the sources said.
When contacted, a Medybiz spokesperson declined to comment on the developments.
“It is too early to make any definitive statement on any relationships the company is pursuing. Currently, we are not in a position to divulge any names we plan to partner with,” he said.
Medco Health Solutions, a spin-off company from drug major Merck & Co, is a leading pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) in the US with net sales of over $42 billion and has the largest mail order pharmacy operations in the US.
Medco is also claimed to offer the largest specialist pharmacist services for various chronic therapies.
Healthways is another leading provider of specialised, comprehensive health and care support solutions to help people and reduce overall healthcare costs. In the third quarter of 2008, it had total revenues of $191.4 million.
