Zuellig Group, one of the world's largest private firms with interests in pharmaceuticals, animal feed and property across the Asia-Pacific region, said it wants to open healthcare centers on the mainland.

"We want to open healthcare clinics on the mainland as soon as possible," said William Meaney, CEO of Zuellig Group.

Foreign medical firms are expanding healthcare products and services in the market as demand grows from affluent mainlanders.

"We are a bit late, but it is still good timing as demand is growing and the market is massive," said Meaney.

He said the company is studying the business environment on the mainland, but would not give a timetable for the healthcare center plan.

Analysts said Zuellig, one of the largest foreign pharmaceutical distributors in China, has a strong network of medical institutions that would be an asset to its plan.

Zeullig is considered the leading provider of cutting-edge pharmaceutical logistics services covering inventory management, warehousing, distribution and customer order management.

European electronics giant Philips, which is aiming to become a leading healthcare service provider in China, has already established a strong presence in the country's personal care industry.

The Dutch group, despite a sharp drop in total profit in the third quarter, posted strong sales growth in China. Double-digit sales growth in the region has prompted the company to stretch its research and development operations in the local market.

(China Daily November 6, 2007)