Wockhardt Hospitals, Ltd. (India) and IndUShealth, Inc. (USA) announce agreement to provide uninsured and self-insured Americans access to affordable high-quality medical treatments in India.

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) February 16, 2006 -- Wockhardt Hospitals, Ltd., operator of several hospitals in India, including one of South Asia's leading super-specialty hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI) USA, has entered into a referral agreement with U.S.-based IndUShealth, Inc.

The agreement with Wockhardt follows similar agreements IndUShealth has entered into with leading Indian hospitals that either already possess or are undergoing JCI accreditation. The agreement calls for IndUShealth to promote and expand Wockhardt's business in North America by identifying, qualifying and referring patients to the Indian facility.

Vishal Bali, CEO of Wockhardt Hospitals, Ltd., commented, "We are among the leading international hospitals that attract overseas patients because of the excellent surgical care that we provide. We are delighted to have IndUShealth as our referring partner in the United States."

Wockhardt Hospitals is associated with Harvard Medical International, USA. This association allows Wockhardt to benefit from the extensive knowledge and experience of the Harvard Medical School and its affiliated institutions worldwide.

Wockhardt Hospitals is part of the Wockhardt Group. Wockhardt Limited, the flagship, is a global pharmaceutical and biotechnology company headquartered in India with a market capitalization of $1.3 billion. Over half of Wockhardt Limited's sales come from the U.S. and Europe.

IndUShealth officials point out that more referrals to Wockhardt and other well-regarded Indian hospitals may help relieve a growing problem of access to medical care in the U.S. They note that more than 45 million uninsured and underinsured Americans face financial ruin in case of a catastrophic medical expense.

Tom Keesling, Co-Founder and President of IndUShealth, said, "The issue of prohibitively expensive medical care in the U.S. is becoming worse every day. Easy referral access to the Wockhardt Hospitals is another major step forward for our company that provides a timely solution to those seeking outstanding, affordable global healthcare."

Under the agreement with Wockhardt, American patients will travel to the JCI accredited super-specialty Wockhardt Hospitals complex in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) for procedures including hip resurfacing, knee replacement, coronary bypass and endoscopic disc removal.

The latter procedure is considered a groundbreaking achievement by surgeons at the Wockhardt Spine Center, since disc removal is accomplished with low-invasion surgery, often allowing a patient to leave the hospital in one day.

Wockhardt has hospitals in the Indian cities of Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkatta and Nagpur and offers the latest technology, multi-disciplinary capability and high-end facilities, all being used by surgeons and support staffs trained in leading international medical centers.

Rajesh Rao, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at IndUShealth, commented, "Another significant advantage to having Wockhardt as part of our destination hospital group is the expansion of locales for our patient travel. Now we have added cities like Mumbai and Bangalore to our prior linkages with hospitals in Delhi and Chennai."

All the major Indian hospitals have been attracting increasing numbers of international patients in recent years. There has been a rapid and widespread acceptance of India-based physicians in the U.S. largely because a high percentage of India's top doctors and professional staff have trained or practiced in the West.

About IndUShealth

IndUShealth is a global health care service that links uninsured and self-insured Americans to affordable, high-quality medical care in India. Its programs begin with an initial physician referral and continue through treatment, recuperation, and return to North America. For more information, visit www.indushealth.com.

About Wockhardt

Wockhardt Hospitals Limited is an Indian super-specialty hospital chain associated with Harvard Medical International (HMI). As an exclusive associate of HMI in India, Wockhardt Hospitals benefits from the extensive learning and experience of Harvard Medical School and its affiliated institutions, enabling it to bring global standards of clinical expertise to India. Wockhardt Hospitals currently operates hospitals in various cities in India and is equipped to serve the needs of international patients who come from all over the world to benefit from its latest technology, multi-disciplinary capabilities, world-class infrastructure and excellent patient care. Wockhardt Hospitals is part of the Wockhardt Group, whose flagship Wockhardt Limited is a pharmaceutical major and a front-runner in biotechnology with a market capitalization of $1.3 billion. For more information, visit www.wockhardthospitals.net.