Pai in a One-Horse Race to Buy Columbia Asia Hospitals

The billionaire looks set to break the jinx in his bid to buy a hospital chain to improve his Manipal Hospitals’ pan-India presence.

- ANSHUL DHAMIJA

THERE IS A HIGH LIKELIHOOD of Ranjan Pai, chairman of the Manipal Educa-tion and Medical Group (MEMG), breaking the jinx in his attempts to acquire a hospital chain in India. The billionaire is looking to buy Columbia Asia Hospitals, owned by Seattle-based healthcare provider Columbia Pacific Management. The deal is pegged at about ₹2,000 crore.