A homegrown diagnostic brand, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd is eyeing north India to expand via the franchise route. Incepted since 1981, Metropolis boasts to be the largest chain of diagnostic centres in Asia, predominantly, in south and west India. It has operations all across the world, even in the emerging countries and have recently opened infrastructure now in north India.
Sameer Kaul, COO, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. says: “Healthcare was predominantly conceived as doctor and somebody from the health fraternity but it’s changing now. Healthcare at the primary level involved hospitals and on secondary level it’s the trauma centres, which is in part and parcel of the healthcare industry. But diagnostics are on the tertiary level because no treatment starts without any reports of the diagnosis. Therefore, diagnostics industry in India is growing exponentially and better than the overall healthcare industry. The brand is tapping the north India market for further expansion and seeks partnership with franchisees too.”
In last 14 years Metropolis has grown pan India and in seven foreign locations, which includes Sri Lanka, UAE and Ghana. Metropolis Healthcare offers around 4,500 varieties of tests–everything from basic blood screening to specialised tests and processes more than 15 million tests annually. In 2005 Metropolis made its first international foray, tying up with Nawaloka Hospital in Sri Lanka.
Kaul further says: "In the next five years, we see Metropolis Healthcare to be the leader in the diagnostic industry with a significant presence in India’s tier- II & III towns. Metropolis is always looking for good opportunities to partner and grow the brand domestically as well as internationally."