Philadelphia-based Cigna Insurance has signed a formal agreement with Wockhardt Hospitals Group in India to accept direct payments from the Cigna International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) health plans. Cigna, which has a 125-year history in insurance, is amongst the leading health insurers in the United States, and its various health plans cover 32mn people in the U.S.

Through this alliance Cigna's expatriate members and its covered international travelers will have access to medical treatment at any of the Wockhardt Group hospitals across India on a cashless basis. Direct payments and guarantees of payment will be given by CIEB. The members can access all healthcare facilities at Wockhardt hospitals, including specialised surgeries in Cardiology, Orthopedics, and Neurosurgery, besides emergency care.

"In a globally changing healthcare world, alliances of this nature are significant for international patients to access quality healthcare services in India", said Vishal Bali, Vice President, Wockhardt Hospitals Group.

Incidentally CIEB is the world's largest provider of employer sponsored insurance plans for expatriate employees and their insured family members.

"This association significantly enhances our network capabilities in this region while giving additional benefit to our members", said Markus Zettner, Provider Relations Manager, CIEB.

As an expert with more than 25 years of experience in global health insurance, CIEB offers its members access to quality healthcare around the world.

Wockhardt Hospitals has embarked on a major expansion mode in India and abroad with 4 more hospitals under implementation. It currently operates 6 super speciality hospitals across India with specialisation in Cardiology, Orthopedics, Neurology, Minimal Access Surgery and Urology.

Wockhardt Hospitals has become one of the leading providers of tertiary healthcare services in Cardiac Surgery, Joint Replacements and Hip Resurfacing for international patients from the U.K, the U.S., other countries in Europe, Africa, West Asia and South East Asia.

Recently, Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai became the first super speciality hospital in South Asia to receive accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), which is the global benchmark in accreditation for quality focused healthcare organisations.

Wockhardt Hospitals has joined a select league of 71 hospitals in the world, which have passed JCI's stringent clinical quality standards worldwide to achieve this coveted accreditation.

"Insurance is the core driver for healthcare accessibility either within or outside the country of origin. Our alliances with insurance providers both in India and globally will facilitate patients to receive high-quality healthcare services provided by our hospitals", said Bali.

Wockhardt Hospitals is a leading super speciality healthcare delivery provider in India for the last 16 years. It has an exclusive association in India with Harvard Medical International, the global arm of Harvard Medical School.

The group is currently implementing a second 400-bed hospital in Bangalore, which will be commissioned in March 2006. Besides being a Centre of Excellence for medical treatment for patients in India, Wockhardt Hospitals is also a treatment destination for international patients from Europe, U.S., South Asia, South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Wockhardt Hospitals is the first hospital group in South Asia to be recognised by the American Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in its worldwide network of participating hospitals.