Indian health firm enters Kenyan market
PHOTO | SALATON NJAU Metropolis Healthcare India managing director Ameera Shah (right) and Kenyan pathologist Geoffrey Mutuma during a press conference on the launch of Metropolis Star Lab at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi on July 23, 2013.
India-based health firm Metropolis has set up two laboratories in Nairobi.
With a capacity to deliver 4,500 different pathology tests, the two labs, built at a cost of Sh40 million, are expected to benefit Kenyans who cannot afford to seek specialised medical attention abroad.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Metropolis managing director Ameera Shah said the company will invest an additional Sh450 million over the next five years to put up satellite laboratories in Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kakamega. The labs will be served by 50 sample collection points.
“We intend to solve a myriad of health complications through promoting regular checkups for early detection and attention,” the managing director said.
Metropolis’ services will cost at least 20 per cent lower than those of conventional hospitals, Ms Shah said.
The firm hopes that this pricing strategy will succeed in Kenya as it has in India, “which has similar economic dynamics to Kenya”.
The multinational wants to use Kenya as its entry point to East and western Africa. Its Southern Africa headquarters is based in South Africa.
