“The year 2008 is the most aggressive in the company’s history in terms of CMU’s investment program. In addition to the investments in the Baneasa diagnostic center, worth €7 million, and in the women’s hospital, of €7 million, we have a budget of €7 million to acquire clinics around the country,” said Dr. Wargha Enayati, General Manager of CMU and owner of the company.

According to Sergiu Negut, Executive Director of CMU, the amount announced for acquisitions in the country could be increased, if additional opportunities arise.

At the beginning of last year, the British 3i investment fund came onboard as shareholder, taking over a package of 46.98 percent of the company’s capital from its founder. Sources of financing for these investments come from loans, investor support, and the company’s revenue.

According to Dr. Enayati, CMU will have 8 units in Bucharest and 4 clinics around the country by the end of 2008, while in 2010 its network should include 10 units in the Romanian capital, and doubling those around the country to eight. At the beginning of this year, CMU made its first investment outside Bucharest, when it took over Centrul Medical Motilor in Cluj, a deal to be followed in a few months by the opening of a clinic in Ploiesti, worth €500,000. “This will be the largest private clinic in Ploiesti,” said Dr. Enayati. The company is also involved in advanced negotiations to take over other local players, but officials did not wish to comment.

Yesterday, CMU inaugurated its €500,000 children’s clinic in Bucharest’s Opera Center, which will serve the children of corporate subscribers, as well as the retail segment, the latter less served to date by the company. “This is a clinic, not a hospital, but children can be hospitalized for one day, such as in the case of dehydration, at a cost of €100-200, explained Dr. Enayati, who indicated that the unit can serve 150-200 clients daily. The cost of a consultation for individuals will be some RON 70-100 (€20-25).

The private medical service market is valuated at some €300 mln, with an annual growth rate estimated at 30 percent.

CMU’s main competitors are MedLife, Medicover, Medsana and Sanador.