Private sector health care major Apollo Hospitals has revealed its plans to set up 200 clinics across the country, to provide a comprehensive diabetes management solution.

On Saturday, the company launched two diabetes management clinics under the brand name 'Sugar' on pilot basis in Hyderabad.

The latest launched clinics will provide comprehensive diagnosis and evaluation, education, and treatment, including life-style support to the diabetics.

Further, the clinics will also offer year-long disease management programme, including controlling blood sugar level and early intervention for complications of diabetes.

The company intends to establish 50 clinics over the next six months and 150 more by December 2009 in various parts of the country.

The company has informed that it has reserved capital worth Rs 40 crore for the set up of proposed clinics.

During the launching ceremony of clinics, Apollo has also signed a memorandum of understanding for the purpose with MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd, the Indian arm of Merck.

Under the arrangement, MSD Pharmaceuticals would provide scientific inputs through Merck's software tool, which is specifically designed for the development of the structured care protocol (SCP) to manage the diabetic patients, training to physicians and paramedics and patient education content.

According to a latest research report, India is considered as global capital of diabetes and it is projected that every fifth adult in the country would be a diabetic. As per the report, there are 3.2 crore diabetic patients in the country and the number is likely to reach 8 crore by 2030.