BUPA expands Spanish business with new hospital

4 November 2002

BUPA is investing 27 million to build a new hospital inMadrid, Spain, increasing the number of hospitals it operates to 38 worldwide.

The new 100-bed hospital will be built by Sanitas, BUPA'sSpanish subsidiary and is due for completion in the Spring of 2005. Located ina developing residential district of Madrid, the new hospital will carry outemergency and planned surgery, diagnostic work and out-patient services. Itwill employ 550 people.

The company is also expanding its other Madrid hospital -La Zarzuela - by 20 percent to increase emergency and in-patient areas.

Commenting on the announcement, Val Gooding, BUPA chiefexecutive said: "We are committed to improving the health services weoffer our customers and communities worldwide by investing in new facilitiesand the latest technology. These new investments in Spain will offer greatlyenhanced healthcare services to our half a million customers in Madrid. Theyalso strengthen our international operations, which are growing inimportance."

This latest overseas investment follows BUPA's acquisitionlast month of AXA Health Australia for 227 million in a consortium withAustralia's Macquarie Bank.

BUPA is predominantly a UK-based business, but continuesto look at home and overseas for opportunities to invest.