Chennai: After hospital and pharmacy chains the focus is now on setting up neighbourhood clinic chains. While hospital groups like Apollo and Fortis have set up such chains, the city-based Star Health and Medical Tourism Pvt Ltd-a non healthcare company has decided to venture into this field.

Adding to the surprise element is the company''s focus on non-metro rural areas and the inclusion of telemedicine facility- the first time in a primary healthcare set-up. The company is part of the ETA Ascon group that has varied business interests.

Says executive director A G Gajapathy, "We are the first corporate to focus on the non metro cities and rural areas. We plan to have around 125 Star Clinics by the end of the year. Nearly 70 clinics will be in South India and rest in other parts of the country." The total investment planned for the 125 clinics is around Rs6 crore.

The company has launched its clinics on May 19, 2007 in Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy, Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Mettupalayam, Pudukottai, Tenkasi and Erode.

According to Gajapathy all the clinics are linked to the company''s head office in Chennai. The doctors at the clinic can consult the specialists in Chennai using the telemedicine facility.

"We have tied up with several hospitals so that a patient who comes to the Star Clinic could be referred to a network hospital for further treatment," adds Gajapathy

The Star Clinics will also assist the operations of the group company Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited. The insurer can ask its prospective clients to have their medical tests done at Star Clinics.

According to Gajapathy, the doctors are Star Clinics are full time employees of Star Health and Medical. "We are also open for franchisee arrangements or taking over an existing clinic."