New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) Hospital chain Apollo Group will soon open a medical college for undergraduation, chairman Prathap C. Reddy said Wednesday.

‘We are likely to start an undergraduate college. It is amply clear that just making hospital buildings is not enough. The skill is lacking and that is what is required,’ Reddy told reporters on the sidelines of a medical summit here.

Reddy said Apollo was in talks with three reputed international universities for a tie-up. However, he refused to name the three varsities.

‘The present scene is such that the old syllabus is being followed. The ministry of health and ministry of human resource development are also convinced to bring about a change. So with approvals, we hope to also set up an institute of excellence soon,’ he added.

The Apollo Group would be investing Rs.18 billion over the next two years as part of its plan to add 2,000 beds to its inventory, besides expanding its existing facilities.

Reddy said in his expansion plans he would focus on super specialty hospitals.

‘We want to go in for super speciality hospitals only, not multispeciality. Because we don’t want to compete with the primary and secondary health care centres. We want to complement them with the tertiary specialty,’ Reddy said.