ISOFT TO UP INDIA HEADCOUNT BY 600

iSOFT Group, the UK-based IT firm specialising in healthcare segment, plans to invest $100 million over the next three years in its Indian operations. It would also increase its headcount here to 800 from 300 people at present.

iSOFT CEO Mr Tim Whiston said that the investment would go into developing next-generation products based on .Net technology and on applications for digital TVs and mobile devices.

He said that this would be funded by internal accruals. In 2003, the company recorded revenues of $170 million and operating profit of $39.2 million. These are expected to grow to $594 million and $139 million respectively in 2005.

iSOFT R&D CEO Mr Ravan Boddu said that the company's development centre employed 300 people and had a purpose-built 30,000 sq ft facility in Chennai, with a total investment of $24 million so far. It would expand both office space and headcount in the next three years. This increased capacity will partly be used to resource the $100-million project it won from the UK's National Health Service.

Mr Whiston said that the company's focus was on socialised healthcare models, such as those in the UK, Hong Kong, Australia and some European countries. The UK accounts for 75% of its revenues and would continue to contribute that much, even as the company explores other markets.