Latest news with #ApolloHealthco
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Apollo Hospitals to deepen presence in Bengaluru, Hyderabad
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd is increasing its penetration in Bengaluru and Hyderabad through a mix of greenfield and brownfield projects, as it embarks on a large-scale expansion plan in FY26. The hospital chain has approved a brownfield expansion of 160 beds across Jubilee Hills and Secunderabad facilities in Hyderabad, as well as acquired 2.53-acre land in Sarjapur, Bengaluru for a 500-bed greenfield hospital. These are expected to be operational in 3-4 years. It has also acquired an existing 200-bed hospital in Sarjapur, which will be operational in the next two quarters, the company said. This is in addition to the chain's planned expansion in Gurugram, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Pune, which it is commencing in FY26. Also read: IHH Healthcare arm increases damages sought from Daiichi Sankyo to ₹11,800 crore over Fortis stake dispute 'Over the next one year, we will be having quite a bit of expansions coming up," chief financial officer Krishnan Akhileswaran told Mint. The chain will be adding over 4,300 beds over three to four years beginning FY26, with a total capital outlay of over ₹8,000 crore. In the fourth quarter ended March, the company's consolidated revenues rose 13% year-on-year to ₹5,592 crore. Consolidated ebitda increased 20% over a year earlier to ₹770 crore, while profit after tax (PAT) rose 54% to ₹390 crore. For FY25, Apollo's consolidated revenues rose 14% on-year to ₹21,794 crore, while ebitda grew 26% to ₹3,022 crore. PAT increased 61% to ₹1,446 crore. Also read: Zydus bets big on vaccines and medtech Hospitals business grows The company's hospitals business grew 10% year-on-year in Q4 to ₹2,822 crore, while ebitda grew 16% to ₹686.3 crore. The business reported an ebitda margin of 24.3%. 'All of this is clearly representative of the operating leverage that we have from the same facilities that we are operating out of. No new facilities added as yet," Krishnan said. The growth from the company's bed additions starting this year will be significantly seen in FY27, he said. The company saw a dip in volumes due to the loss of patients from Bangladesh. However, the current base is the lowest it can get to, Krishan said. Also read: Access to obesity management not available to most Indian patients: World Heart Federation report The company expects Apollo 24/7 to be profitable by the end of FY26. It is focusing on 20% growth for Apollo Healthco, its digital healthcare and omnichannel pharmacy arm in FY26. 'The focus [for Apollo Healthco] is more on revenue and profitability," Krishnan said.
News18
21-04-2025
- Business
- News18
A Medicine Alternative To Blinkit, Zepto: Apollo Healthcare CEO Discusses Expansion Of 19-Minute Delivery Model
Last Updated: The company is working to make the availability of medicines in both acute and chronic cases faster and currently, in Delhi-NCR, 48 per cent orders are delivered within 19 minutes while across India, 82 per cent orders are delivered within a day If you can buy a packet of chips in 10 minutes, why not your blood pressure pills? What Blinkit, Zepto and other quick-commerce delivery apps did for groceries, Apollo Pharmacy is trying to do for medicines with just 19-minute delivery. However, stakes are much higher in the e-pharmacy business, which involves delivering life-saving drugs, Madhivanan Balakrishnan, chief executive officer, Apollo Healthco, told News18 in an exclusive interaction. Just like buying groceries, people are now buying medicines more often in smaller amounts instead of planning and buying in bulk. But at some level, the comparison between grocery apps and Apollo may become 'fundamentally flawed", Balakrishnan said, while discussing the company's plan to strengthen its 19-minute medicine delivery. Apollo Healthco is the parent company of Apollo Pharmacy and Apollo 24|7, an omni-channel health platform that offers online medicine delivery, online consultations, home lab tests and digital health records among other features. 'Stakes are much higher in healthcare delivery. Delayed medicine isn't just an inconvenience as it can directly impact someone's well-being." There are a lot of 'nuances and sensitivities" while delivering life-saving drugs, Balakrishnan said, adding: 'But, with Apollo's legacy in pharmacy, an integrated supply chain, our technology and a 6,500-strong store network, we are well placed to lead this shift allowing us to deliver speed with trust." The company said it is working to make the availability of medicines in both acute and chronic cases faster and currently, in Delhi-NCR, '48 per cent orders are delivered within 19 minutes" while across India, 82 per cent orders are delivered within a day. The major difference between grocery apps and Apollo is the delivery of 'prescription medicines" which are often time-sensitive and critical for a consumer's health. Balakrishnan believes that the company's quick delivery model is designed to meet that urgency—without compromising on safety or compliance. 'Every prescription order goes through a robust, multi-layered validation process. The moment an order is placed, it's digitally screened for prescription authenticity, ensuring it meets regulatory standards." After being verified digitally, the company told News18 that each prescription is reviewed and approved by a registered pharmacist before dispatch, adding critical human oversight to the automated flow. All of this, the company claims, is tightly integrated with its real-time inventory systems, which help locate the nearest store for fastest fulfilment. Quick Delivery Biz Set To Expand Soon, the quick delivery business will be expanded further. 'Our aim is to strengthen our quick delivery offerings profitably to more cities in the days to come," the CEO said. The quick delivery service is currently live in major metros like Delhi/NCR, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, including some parts of Chennai and Mumbai. 'The service will be rolled out in 10 more cities over the next six months, with a goal of covering an additional 5,000 pin codes by year-end," he said, explaining that the next phase will see them expand to 20 additional cities. 'To enable this, we are investing in technology and expanding our retail pharmacy footprint too." How Did The Journey Start? Apollo 24|7 was launched just before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. 'The platform began with a two-hour delivery promise, rooted in the insight that nearly 62 per cent of health needs are acute and demand immediate attention." 'Quick delivery has always been at the core of our proposition and speed became the cornerstone of our approach from day one. Last year, we upped the game and launched 19-minute delivery with an understanding that acute medical needs require quick delivery." The company initiated the pilot in Delhi-NCR, and upon receiving a favourable response, extended it to five other cities. 'Quick commerce behaviour of more sporadic and frequent orders vis-à-vis planned bulk orders is being observed in pharmacy purchases as well. This has accelerated the need for real-time inventory visibility, automated prescription checks, optimised rider routing, and micro-warehousing for faster last-mile delivery." Backed by Apollo's supply chain expertise and pharmacy network, the company believes it is well-placed to bring efficiency to doorstep delivery. 'Continuous investments in technology, infrastructure, and operations have since helped us evolve into a truly omni-channel healthcare platform—offering not just medicines, but doctor consultations, diagnostics, wellness products, and more. We want Apollo 24|7 to become India's first port of call for all things health." Overall, Balakrishnan said the primary aim is to make sure 'we are able to deliver 90 per cent of orders the same day and we are close to achieving that milestone. At present, we are at 82 per cent." He added that currently in Delhi/NCR, 48 per cent orders are delivered within 19 minutes. In the brick-and-mortar segment, Apollo is the largest pharmacy chain in the country, with 80 per cent of India's population within a 40-minute reach of its services. According to the company's data, close to nine lakh transactions happen in these stores daily. 'We are focused on deepening our presence in high-demand Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, while working towards placing an Apollo Pharmacy within five minutes of every household and workplace in India's top metros." How Is e-Pharmacies Business Evolving? The omni-channel approach is gaining traction, with digital-first players expanding offline and vice versa, combining digital speed with physical trust. 'This is especially relevant in Tier 2 and 3 cities, where consumers still do not have an online-first mindset." However, scaling up presents challenges. 'Partnering with licensed pharmacies instead of relying solely on dark stores ensures trust and adherence to norms," Balakrishnan said, explaining that the company relies on analysing data, forecasting demand and streamlining the delivery process. News18 India delivers breaking news, top headlines, and live updates on politics, weather, elections, law and crime, much more. Stay informed with real-time coverage and in-depth analysis of current events across India. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: April 21, 2025, 15:46 IST News india A Medicine Alternative To Blinkit, Zepto: Apollo Healthcare CEO Discusses Expansion Of 19-Minute Delivery Model
