Date:19/03/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/03/19/stories/2004031902400200.htm

Back Apollo Health launches specialised maternity centres

Our Bureau

Dr Pratap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, addressing a press conference in the Capital on Thursday. - Kamal Narang

New Delhi , March 18

APOLLO Health and Lifestyle Ltd (AHLL), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Apollo Hospitals, has launched boutique maternity centres. To be called `The Cradle,' these state-of-the-art specialised maternity care centres will cater to the needs of expectant mothers and newborns.

The Cradle is targeted at parents who do not compromise on quality. It will bring to Indian mothers the best birthing facilities all under one roof in line with global trends.

These centres are the result of an extensive study of top-notch birthing facilities in Western countries.

According to Mr Ratan Jalan, Chief Executive Officer, Apollo Health and Lifestyle Ltd, "At Apollo, we see giving birth to a child as a joyful experience and have therefore ensured that The Cradle does not wear the look of a hospital. At The Cradle, our thrust is on providing a friendly and caring environment, which is supportive to the psychological state of the expectant mothers, besides the best in medical attention."

Dr Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, added, "The Apollo Group has always brought the best of global trends in healthcare to India by creating new segments to cater to the specific needs of the consumer. We are proud to be breaking yet another initiative in the Indian market through The Cradle."

The Cradle will have private birthing suites equipped with all the medical facilities required for a normal delivery. Other state-of-the-art medical facilities that will be available at The Cradle include fully equipped operation theatres (for caesareans as well as gynaecological procedures), entral foetal monitoring, where the doctor can monitor the patient from a single location, blood store and Out Patients Department.

The company is planning to set up these centres in 8-10 cities across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and abroad, through joint ventures. "The first joint venture for the birthing centre had already been signed with Sunrise Medicare Ltd, promoted jointly by the Burman family of Dabur India and the Talwar Group Company," said Mr Jalan.