Apollo Hospitals eyes hotel tie-ups for low diabetic menu

Apollo Hospitals Group on Wednesday plans to set up 100 diabetes clinics in India by December 2016 and expand in Middle East.

Gagan Bhalla, CEO, Apollo Sugar Clinics, said, "We are already present in Muscat. We will take 6-9 months to open in Middle East and we are looking at markets like Dubai and Abu Dhabi as primary bases. This is an innovative model which we need to get right."

Bhalla said that Middle East has the highest prevalence in the world when it comes to diabetes.

The group launched four diabetes clinics in Mumbai at Kandivili, Vile Parle, Chembur and Tardeo, run in partnership with Sanofi, which owns 20% stake in the venture. Apollo's Navi Mumbai hospital, which is likely to be ready by December this year, will also house a sugar clinic.

Sangeeta Reddy, joint managing director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise and chairperson, Apollo Sugar Clinics, said that the company is also exploring partnerships with hotel and restaurant chains in India to put forward a proposal to include menus with low glycemic index suitable for diabetes patients.

On reports of tussle between Apollo Hospitals promoters and Malaysia-based IHH Healthcare over recent acquisition of Continental Hospitals and Global Hospitals by IHH, Reddy said, "It is not our most favourite move but they understand Indian healthcare is profitable. They wanted a bigger stake in Apollo, but they got constrained because they got only so much" IHH Healthcare holds 10.85% stake in Apollo Hospitals.

"I think there is scope to collaborate. India is a very large market. I think we are trying to explore mature ways to work together, otherwise everyone has options," she said.