Major hospitals chain, Fortis Healthcare India said it would add 600 more beds over next six months from 4,100 right now. The company’s consolidated net profit dropped by 15.18 per cent to Rs 29.26 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2011 as compared to Rs 34.50 crore over the same period previous year.

The dip in its net profit for the quarter was due to investments in new verticals and losses suffered by diagnostic arm Super Religare Laboratories (SRL), it said in a statement on Friday.

The company’s consolidated total income rose to Rs 604.55 crore for the quarter as against Rs 371.43 crore for the corresponding quarter in 2010. Standalone net profit of the company stood at Rs 25.93 crore for the third quarter this year as compared to Rs 42.73 crore for corresponding quarter last year.

“The third quarter of the financial year has witnessed a robust growth momentum for Fortis. We continue to expand our presence in India and have launched new medical programmes and growth initiatives across various hospitals,” chief executive officer, Fortis Healthcare India, Aditya Vij said. “We will add 600 operational beds in next six months,” he added.

The hospital segment continued to witness healt-hy growth with operating revenue from the hospital business garnering Rs 482 crore for the quarter representing a robust growth of 30 per cent over the corresponding period last financial year.

The company said growth were led by Fortis Escorts Jaipur, Fortis Escorts Faridabad, Fortis Mulund, Fortis BG Road, Fortis Shalimar Bagh and Fortis Anandpur.