Aster DM Healthcare, Dr Reddy's partner to administer Sputnik V vaccine in select locations

Aster DM Healthcare on Friday said it has tied up with Dr Reddy's Laboratories to administer the COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V as part of a limited pilot soft launch.

The Kochi-based healthcare provider would initially inoculate beneficiaries in Kochi, Kerala, and Kolhapur, Maharashtra, as part of the initiative.

"We look forward to building a strong partnership with Dr Reddy's across our network of hospitals to further strengthen our efforts in providing easy access and vaccinating the community," Aster DM Healthcare CEO Harish Pillai said in a statement.

Aster has trained over 100 staff at 14 hospitals to administer the vaccine jab.

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We are pleased to collaborate with Aster DM Healthcare in Kochi and Kolhapur as we scale up our soft pilot launch of the Sputnik V vaccine in India to more cities ahead of its commercial launch. In the upcoming months, we hope to inoculate as many Indians as possible," Dr Reddy's CEO Branded Markets (India and Emerging Markets) MV Ramana noted.

Aster DM Healthcare is one of the largest integrated healthcare service providers operating in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and an emerging healthcare player in India.

Hyderabad-based Dr Reddy's operates in markets across the globe, including the US, India, Russia, CIS countries, and Europe.

Earlier this week, Motherson Medical — a part of auto component major Motherson Group — on Tuesday said it has joined hands with the research arm of Aster DM Healthcare to test and validate diagnostic devices and solutions.

Motherson Medical and MIMS Research Foundation Trust have come together to impact lives globally by delivering innovative and technology-driven diagnostic solutions, it said in a statement.

The partnership will involve testing and validation of new diagnostic devices designed by Motherson, it added.

(Disclaimer: Additional background information has been added to this PTI copy for context)