“We expect 25% growth in 2015 and the first half results confirm the projected trend,” Alina Ambrozie, Ponderas chief executive, told ZF.
Ponderas is registered with the Finance Ministry as Delta Health Care, a company of surgeon Catalin Copaescu, who established the hospital in 2011. Last year, the Ponderas hospital and clinic generated EUR10.5 million revenue, an increase of 30% on 2013.
If it achieves the 25% growth target, this year’s revenue will match the initial investments, which stood at about EUR13 million four years ago. The hospital has been through a rebranding process ever since, which cost the shareholders EUR200,000 in 2013, moved to a new location and also invested in the training of doctors.
Ponderas entered a yet untapped niche in Romania, the weight loss surgery, so its revenue rose 3.5 times in 2011-2014 from 13.3 million lei (EUR3 million) to RON46.4 million, according to Finance Ministry data.
Ponderas moved to a new place on the Nicolae Caranfil Street in northern Bucharest in March, following a EUR4 million investment. Its new home is twice bigger than the old facility it used to operate in. Last year’s occupancy rate was 70%, but this year it will drop, after the capacity increased to 141 beds.
“(…) we estimate a 50% occupancy rate this year,” Alina Ambrozie said.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)