Diagnostic chain Metropolis Healthcare was all set to open 1,800 new collection centres and 90 processing labs across the country in the next three years, Metropolis Managing Director Ameera Shah said. “Around 80 per cent out of the 1,800 centres will be via franchises, and the remaining processing labs will be Metropolis’ ventures. Each processing lab will see an investment of around Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore,” Shah said.

In October 2021, Metropolis Healthcare completed the acquisition of Chennai-based Hitech Diagnostic Centre (Hitech) and its subsidiary Centralab Healthcare Services for Rs 636 crore in cash. “Hitech is a cheap and acceptable brand in Chennai. We currently operate 43 centres, with a capacity of 100 to 150 centres in Chennai. We are trying to expand our test menu in the city as well,” Shah added.

The Managing Director also said that “The company is planning to add around 40 new Hitech centres in the current financial year. Metropolis Healthcare has a total of 3,050 centres across the country. We also franchise our collection centres. We have a comprehensive research and development team working on expanding the number of tests available. We have 400 to 500 tests available in Chennai and are planning to add another 100 to 200 tests.”