Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) and India-based Bharat Family Clinic Pvt. Ltd. (BFC) have signed a first-of-its-kind agreement to establish a large network of outpatient primary care clinics across India.

Under the affiliation agreement with BFC, Johns Hopkins faculty and experts will advise Bharat Family Clinics on the development of clinical programs and assist with the facility design and operation of the new chain of primary and secondary care clinics across India. A network of nationwide clinics will be launched over a 10-year period with the first one scheduled to open in November.

“The goal of Bharat Family Clinics is to deliver world-class health care to its patients in India and the region, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to join hands in that quest with one of the world’s health care leaders,” said Pradeep Handa, M.D., chairman of Bharat Family Clinic. “This initiative is an important step toward transforming primary health care services in India. We believe that this can be best accomplished through the delivery of quality medical and wellness services in an environment of compassion, comfort and care.”

The new facilities will adopt the outpatient primary care procedures and protocols of Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, and will feature state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and highly trained teams of health care providers. Patient-centered service excellence, standardized treatment protocols, advanced information technology and modern medical equipment will allow for seamless operations and efficient knowledge transfer across the network of new clinics. The BFC clinics will offer consultations with physicians and will provide diagnostic, laboratory testing, and pharmacy and ambulatory care services. Areas of specialty will include general internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and otolaryngology.

“As part of Johns Hopkins’ historic mission, we strive to improve global health care by sharing our knowledge and expertise through collaborations with health systems around the world,” said Steven J. Thompson, M.B.A., chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine International. “We are delighted to work closely with Bharat Family Clinics and to be able to share our expertise through this unique project. We also hope that this project will make significant impact on the delivery of preventive and primary care in India and beyond.”

About Bharat Family Clinics

Bharat Family Clinic Pvt. Ltd. is the realization of Pradeep Handa's vision to enhance the quality of life of families. By combining expertise, technology and compassion, Handa seeks to deliver a gold standard of uncompromised health care through a chain of primary care centers across India. BFC, a new entrant in the Indian health care industry, will open its flagship clinic in sector 54 Gurgaon, near the Delhi-NCR region, in November 2012.

About Johns Hopkins Medicine International

Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) facilitates the global expansion of the Johns Hopkins Medicine mission: to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. JHI provides personalized, culturally appropriate care for patients traveling from outside Maryland and the United States, and for local patients with limited English proficiency. JHI also leverages Hopkins' extensive knowledge base in medicine, nursing, public health, business and health care administration to provide services in hospital management, health care consulting and clinical education through strategic alliances and affiliations throughout the world.