Dubai DM Healthcare, a healthcare conglomerate in India and the Middle East, said it will invest more than Rs21.50 billion in developing a healthcare city in Kerala to help it attract domestic and international health tourism. The projects include Aster Medcity, a hi-tech healthcare destination being developed in over 40 acres of land that integrates nature with healing, in Kochi. The first phase, which is being developed at a project outlay of Rs5 billion, includes a 550-bed Core Hospital with nine Centres of Excellence (COEs) in various super-specialties like Cardiology, Ortho, Oncology etc. Aster Medcity is a conglomeration of multi-use hospitals on one campus. The first phase of Aster Medcity is on track for commissioning during the second half of 2013. The campus will have a Convention Centre, a 4-5 star hotel and an apartment complex for medical staff. A residential facility is also planned. Gulf News