Vasan Healthcare

Vasan Hospital
Vasan
Geography
LocationChennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Organisation
Care systemPrivate
FundingFor-profit hospital
TypeSpecialist
Services
SpecialityEye care
History
Opened2002
Links
Websitevasaneye.com
ListsHospitals in India

Vasan Healthcare Group is a healthcare group in India. Founded by A. M. Arun, the group is based in Trichy and has more than 170 eye care hospitals in India and 27 dental hospitals across 4 states in South India. The company also operates two multi-speciality hospitals in Trichy.[1] Vasan Eye Care Hospitals serve as day-care centres in the treatment of eye ailments. They started their first hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala, in 2010. The corporate office of the hospital is located in Chennai.

History

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A branch of Vasan Eye Care Hospital in Chennai

Vasan Medical Centre, a chain of medical stores, was established in Trichy and Thanjavur in 1947 by AR Murugaiah, a former MP of Karur constituency. His son Dr. AM Arun, the founder of Vasan Healthcare Group, took over the business in 1991 after the death of his father. He established a diagnostic centre and laboratory and later founded two multi-speciality hospitals in Trichy. Arun, who died on 16 November 2020,[2] started the group's first eye care hospital in Trichy in 2002.[3]

Vasan Healthcare expanded rapidly in the early 2010s. As part of this growth, various businesses invested in Vasan. Among them are Sequoia India, Singapore government-backed GIC Investment, and WestBridge Capital, an Indian private and public equity fund. GIC Investment committed $100 million in mid-2012. In 2014, Sequoia India and WestBridge Capital together committed around $50 million over three rounds into Vasan.[4]

Controversies

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In September 2015, a Chennai-based chartered accountant S Gurumurthy alleged that former Finance Minister of India P. Chidambaram had used firms to launder money using the Vasan Eye Care hospital chain, which he and his son owned through benami companies.[5][6]

Insolvency

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In 2017, the insolvency process was started based on the order of the National Company Law Tribunal in Chennai in a petition filed by Alcon Laboratories (India) Pvt. Ltd., a supplier. The legal proceedings started after a legal stay from 2017 to October 2019.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Vasan Healthcare founder AM Arun dies at 52". BusinessLine. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Vasan Eye Care founder Dr AM Arun, 51, dies in Chennai". The Indian Express. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ^ Subramanian, T. S. (28 July – 10 August 2012). "Health marvel". Frontline. 29 (15). The Hindu. Retrieved 24 July 2012.[dead link]
  4. ^ Badrinath, Raghuvir (19 February 2014). "WestBridge, Sequoia eyeing bumper returns from Vasan". Business News. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ^ "ED raids Vasan Eye Care and other companies linked to Karti Chidambaram". www.thenewsminute.com. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  6. ^ "P Chidambaram, Vasan Eye Care and Rs 223 Crore Black Money". www.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  7. ^ "Vasan Health Care insolvency process cannot be started afresh, says National Company Law Tribunal". www.thehindu.com. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
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