Fortis Healthcare says it is scouring the country to expand and don a pan-Indian image. It would, however, limit fresh forays for now to the metros and big cities.

Mr Harpal Singh, Chairman of the Ranbaxy Labs-owned multi-specialty hospital chain, told Business Line that Fortis has been planning to expand beyond its northern base that covers Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.

Without giving details of potential spots or targets, Mr Singh said, "We wanted to concentrate first in north India, which by itself is a very big market. Now that we have reached the critical mass there, we are ready to go anywhere. We are open to all the three models - management, acquisition of existing hospitals as well as greenfield projects. But we will stay with the big cities for another 3-5 years."

The South and Bangalore, even with their density of corporate hospitals, have also been on its radar for a while.

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