Singapore  - Pacific Healthcare Holdings is expanding its presence in India via a joint venture that will invest 10 million Singapore dollars (7.2 million US dollars) in the healthcare sector over the next three years, executives said on Wednesday.

The Birla-Pacific MedSpa will be 50 per cent owned by India's Yash Birla's Group, 42.5 per cent held by Pacific Healthcare and 7.5 per cent by a dermatologist based in India.

The tie-up plans to set up four medical spa centres and a wellness resort. Two of the centres will be in Mumbai and open this year. The resort, featuring about 20 villas, will be in southern Goa.

The locations for two other centres have yet to be decided.

"Health care is a sunrise industry in India, where excellence is now the key word," said Yash Birla, chairman of the group.

The centres and resort will target the middle to upper class in India and patients from the Middle East, said Pacific Healthcare, which operates a specialist cosmetic and dental centre in Mumbai. (sdpa)