Wockhardt group chairman and managing director, HF Khorakiwala, said that though the company was not looking at the health insurance business per se, it had forged relationships with six leading global insurance firms for its Bangalore hospital, Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Institute.

These international majors include four American firms namely Global Emergency Services Inc, Medex Inc, Global Medical Management Inc, Assist America Inc and AEA International Inc and Gesa Assistance, both of Singapore.

These ``linkages'' would mean that the Wockhardt's hi-tech hospital and heart institute at Bangalore is the only one recognised by these firms and would allow overseas travellers to undergo treatment here while their bills are covered by these firms. Hence,while the Bangalore unit, a separate profit centre within the Wockhardt fold, benefits directly in terms of the services rendered, it also has the twin benefit of being affiliated with big global players in the insurance business. The Bangalore hospital, which was set up in 1990, offers specialised surgical services such as cardiovascular surgery, pathology, radiology etc. In fact, it achieved a milestone in the field of healthcare when its chief cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon conducted the first ever coronary by-pass surgery in India without using a heart lung machine. This innovative technique known as Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Surgery (MICAS) is expected to reduce the cost of a by-pass surgery.

Wockhardt also has a state-of-the-art medical and research centre at Calcutta, which among others, provides out-patient services such as shockwave lithotripsy for kidney stones and laser opthalmic treatment. This unit has ultra modern diagnostic equipment to facilitate appropriate treatment andprevent disease.

The company also plans to set up a super speciality hospital in Calcutta with special focus on heart and kidney ailments. Significantly, the Wockhardt group planned to transfer its hi-tech hospitals at Bangalore and Calcutta to the Chennai-based RR Medi Pharma, now rechristened Wockhardt Healthcare. The transfer was to be done on the basis of valuation of assets of both hospitals in consideration of fully paid- up shares to be issued by the erstwhile RR Medi Pharma. These plans are, however, understood to have been put on hold temporarily.