The Wockhardt hospital group has forayed into the Goan market by entering into a tie up with National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) for their hospital property at Cuncolim village.
"The facility in Goa is a tertiary care hospital with 180 beds and five operation theatres meeting international standards," Wockhardt group Chairman Dr Habil Khorakiwala said.
The endeavour is also expected to boost the state's medical tourism, he said.
"When you look at this facility, this is like a five star property but rates are at par with any other hospital in Goa," Khorakiwala said.
He said that the facility will have round-the-clock dedicated dialysis and physiotherapy centers.
The hospital was yesterday inaugurated by the state Chief Minister Digamber Kamat.
The group has tied up with NUSI, which owns the land in Goa where the hospital has been set up.
Khorakiwala said that the 30-year-old agreement has been worked out with NUSI. "The sailors and their families will now get 20 per cent rebate on treatment in any of the Wockhardt hospitals across the country," Capt N A Hiranandani representing NUSI and the ship owners, said.
The NUSI has been originally reimbursing 50 per cent of medical expenditure of sailors and their families and had tried to set up a hospital property at this place earlier but plans could not sustain, he said.
"We realised that we are not professionals to handle hospital that's why we joined hands with experienced people like Wockhardt," he said.
The hospital group currently has seven properties each at Nagpur, Nashik, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Vashi and Goa with over 1200 beds and potential to expand by another 350 beds, Wockhardt spokesman said.
The group also plans to add 300 beds by 2011 through its new hospital which will be commissioned at South Mumbai.
