Asia Healthcare Holdings takes majority stake in AINU

HYDERABAD: Asia Healthcare Holdings(AHH) has acquired a majority stake in the Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology(AINU), India's largest single specialty hospital network, specializing in Robotic Urology Surgery, Urology and Nephrology Care.

Asia Healthcare Holdings (AHH) plans to invest Rs. 600 cr in the company through a combination of primary and secondary infusion. AHH's acquisition of Urology and Nephrology segment expands its healthcare delivery platform to a fourth speciality, making it the largest and only single-speciality healthcare delivery platform in India and the Asian sub-continent.

AHH, launched in 2017, has scaled enterprises in Oncology, Women & Children's, and IVF and Fertility, all achieving leadership positions within their respective domains. AINU, founded in 2013 by Dr. C Mallikarjuna and Dr. P C Reddy, is a pioneering hospital network in Urology & Nephrology clinical specialty in India.

The company currently operates seven hospitals in Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Siliguri, and Chennai. The network boasts over 500 beds, has treated over 400,000 patients, and has completed over 50,000 procedures.

AINU has achieved a leadership position in robotic urology surgery, completing over 1,000 surgeries using robotic technology in the country. The enterprise had performed over 200,000 dialysis and 300 kidney transplants in the field of nephrology.

“AINU is a distinct single specialty hospital chain in Urology & Nephrology which is built on the foundation of deep clinical expertise and led by clinicians who have decades of experience in this specialty. AINU not only adds a new speciality to the AHH platform but also strengthens our vision of scaling the single specialty healthcare delivery ecosystem in the country. India is amongst the top three nations globally that has the highest incidence Urological disorders, the high incidence of diabetes and hypertension is also accelerating the prevalence of chronic kidney disease. We are delighted to partner with AINU and bridge the demand supply gap in the Urology and Nephrology speciality healthcare delivery in the country” said Vishal Bali, Executive Chairman, Asia Healthcare Holdings.

AINU offers advanced urology treatments, including diagnostics, treatment for stone disease, urology cancers, prostate diseases, reconstructive surgery, laparoscopic urology, and Andrology. The Nephrology Department provides treatment for various renal diseases, including ESRD, using advanced dialysis units equipped with High-End Hemodiafiltration Machines for superior clinical outcomes.

"Indians have a high incidence of kidney stones and non-cancerous prostate enlargement issues. Increasingly, we have observed a rise in the incidence of urological cancer in the last decade. Cancer of the prostate and bladder is becoming more common. Our team has performed over 1,000 robotic surgeries for urological cancers. We are making robotic urology surgery accessible to patients not just in urban India but also in Tier 2 cities. Broadly, we see a higher incidence of uro-oncology, uro-gynecology, and paediatric urology in the years ahead.We believe AHH has the legacy and is the right partner for the next phase of growth of our enterprise, said Dr. C. Mallikarjun, Chief Consultant Urologist and Managing Director, AINU.

"Around 10 percent of the Indian population suffers from chronic kidney disease, and every year over one lakh cases of renal failure are reported, which makes nephrology a key focus area for patients in India. With the increase in chronic kidney diseases, technological advancements in dialysis and transplants are much needed to improve clinical outcomes and provide better patient care," said Dr. P.C. Reddy, Senior Urologist and Executive Director, AINU.

India's Nephrology and Urology specialties saw 1.89 crore procedures in 2022, with a projected 8-9 percent CAGR growth over the next five years. India's growing number of qualified Urologists and Nephrologists, coupled with the increasing availability of laparoscopic, endoscopic, and robotic surgical options, presents a significant growth opportunity for AINU.