Updated on Tuesday, May 01, 2007, 00:00 IST

New Delhi, May 01: Pharmacy chain Fortis Healthworld today said it will open 250 outlets by the end of this year as part of its Rs 800 crore pan India expansion plan.

The pharmacy chain opened its 10th store in the national capital region today.

"We plan to open 250 stores by the end of this year. The newly-launched store marks the journey of Fortis Healthworld's national plans," Fortis Healthcare managing director Shivinder Mohan Singh said.

The company had earlier announced that it would open 1,000 'one-stop-shops' across the country in the next five years entailing about Rs 800 crore investment.

Singh said the company had set a target of having presence in 400 cities across the country in five years.

To begin with, the stores will be launched in metros and mini-metros first and would be either company-owned or under the franchisee model.

"The current ten stores are company-owned and we are also open to the franchisee model if required to establish a strong presence nation wide," Singh said.

These 24/7 stores provide the customers with pharmacy goods, diagnostic centre, personal care products, health food and supplements, ayurvedic and homoeopathic medicines, health goods, and value added services like prescription reminder, OPD appointments and free home-delivery.

Bureau Report