Orchid Healthcare, the formulations division of Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., formally launches its comprehensive health portal, "Healthorchid.com" on June 17, 2001. This futuristic move leverages the Internet technology for gaining a wider reach and corporate presence for Orchid Healthcare. Healthorchid.com is the first multi-objective "Information-Education-Business" portal from a pharmaceutical company. Healthorchid will address the needs of the medical practitioner, the consumer and the pharmaceutical business community in general. It offers a platform for communication amongst the healthcare professionals and between medical practitioners and patients.

Healthorchid would make it possible for all to get informed about the medical trends around the world in select therapy areas. Medical practitioners will have access to medical information exclusively from the Indian context. Healthorchid would also welcome cases from Indian medical practitioners which can be posted on the site, after due examination by an expert panel. Given Orchid’s significant position in anti-infectives market, the Portal would lay a special emphasis on infection management, which continues to be an important issue in healthcare practice. The development of the Healthorchid portal has been entrusted to Satyam Computer Services Ltd. to harness the best of Internet technologies and software engineering capabilities. The site is simple to navigate and easy to read, with features of quick download and high visual appeal. It is intended to be a round the clock channel to meet the process requirements of all business associates and serve as a repository of training programmes for employees so as to continuously update their skills.

As the virtual market place begins to emerge in future, Orchid will undeniably have the first mover advantage through this portal. Development of an e-business channel linking the trade associates for online business transactions is also envisioned for the future. Orchid Healthcare specialises in anti-infective, anti-osteoporosis, anti-inflammatory and anti-hypertensive segments. Orchid has the most comprehensive range of cephalosporin antibiotic formulations in India. Orchid believes that Healthorchid.com will help build a differentiated healthcare and formulations activity through relationships rather than through transactions alone.