Bangalore, Nov 2: Wockhardt Hospital & Heart Institute has forged an alliance with Signa Inc of the US whereby the former will become a part of the healthcare network of the latter.

According to Vishal Bali, centre manager, Wockhardt Hospital & Heart Institute, a memorandum of understanding will be signed shortly between the two firms. The move will result in an international perspective for the Bangalore-based hospital, he said.

Describing the alliance as a strategic move from the hospital side, Bali opined that the healthcare insurance segment in the country will see the entry of foreign companies soon. ``We are looking at a wider vision to usher in more improved technologies,'' he said.

Wockhardt is also pursuing a proposal, now lying with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), to promote the hospital abroad and thereby woo patients. The hospital is also mulling over granting franchisees for big corporates to open hospitals or cardiac centres under the Wockhardt brand name, according to Bali. This will help the patients get the latest cardiac treatment in each and every part of the country, he added. ``Several companies have already approached us on this issue and a detailed programme is being worked out shortly,'' said Bali.

The company is also finalising a tie-up with Assist America, the US insurance giant. The tie-up when complete will be the sixth such alliance for Wockhardt. The other insurance partners who have already signed pacts with Wockhardt are the US-based Global Medical Management Inc, Global Emergency Services Inc and Medex Inc apart from AEA International and Gesh Assistance of Singapore.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.