Columbia Asia, part of Seattle-based Columbia Pacific Management, plans to invest around $150m to expand its hospital network in India and South-East Asia.

The hospital intends to increase its network to 34 hospitals and one clinic by 2018.

Columbia Pacific Management managing director Nate McLemore said: "When we began opening hospitals, virtually all of the care was paid for directly by the patients but in countries like Malaysia, our hospitals have benefitted from the rapid growth of health insurance to a point where today nearly 70% of our patients have coverage.

"It is a major shift, and by focusing on delivering value through high-quality care at affordable prices we are uniquely positioned to serve this newly insured population."

"No other healthcare provider in Asia has hospitals in as many countries operating under a single brand."

In the last few months, Columbia Asia has launched four new hospitals in Jakarta and Semarang, Indonesia, as well as Bangalore and Ahmedabad, India.

The hospital system manages five hospitals in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, and is planning to open a sixth one in 2016 and a seventh in 2017.

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Currently, it manages 26 hospitals and one clinic in Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Vietnam, which provides services to around two million patients per year

Columbia Pacific Management founder Daniel Baty said: "No other healthcare provider in Asia has hospitals in as many countries operating under a single brand."