The convenios will also have emergency ambulance facilities apart from other general convenience goods like toiletries, packed food, said IOC executive director (sales), BK Das, at a press conference here on Wednesday. This is part of the retail marketing strategy of the corporation to ensure that its petrol stations offer one-stop service to its customers, he said.

The medical services and drug store facilities to be extended by Apollo Hospitals will be available round-the-clock at convenios in select retail outlets. At the 57-odd jubilee retail outlets (JROs) operating in highways, apart from these pharmaceutical general stores and ambulance facilities IOCL is offering facilities such as children park, parking lots, dormitories for tourists and passengers on pilgrimage, cafeteria and dhabas for motorists and truckers, said V Sukumaran, general manager (reseller).

Presently, about 10 JROs are operating full-fledged with all facilities in the country and by the end of the year 2000 all the other JROs with such similar facilities will be in place, he added.

Pratap C Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals said that the MoU will enhance the retail strength of the hospital and also the reach of quality support systems offered to the general public. The Apollo pharmacy chain being planned at the Indian Oil's convenios will offer high quality medical services to customers at affordable costs, he assured. Initially, these facilities will be made available in cities where Apollo Hospitals has branches and over a period of time it will be extended to other cities depending upon the requirement.