Business daily The Malaysian Reserve (TMR) today quoted banking and government sources as saying that the group, majority-owned by aviation tycoon Tony Fernandes, is planning to launch Tune Care soon.

Fernandes even met Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam last month to brief the latter on Tune Care’s basic business plan, said the report.

“Sources who are familiar with the development told TMR that Tune Group has created a specialised team to explore various healthcare business models, including diagnostic labs, clinics and hospitals.

“A team led by Dr Pal Singh, a Malaysian, is working on the business plans. An announcement could be made in the second half of next year,” said the report.

According to the report, affordable healthcare has always been the dream venture for Tune Group co-owners Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun since the conglomerate was founded in 2001. The group’s current business interests include affordable hotels, mobile telecommunication and insurance.

The report also quoted Kamarudin confirming that “some progress” had been made in Tune Care and Pal’s leadership in the company, but declined to divulge further information.

“We have asked Pal to go and meet Tata group, which has a cancer hospital in India. This is just to explore various business models,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that Tune Group was “excited” to finalise the business model for Tune Care in the near future.

Kamarudin however, expressed concern about the “liability issue” in the healthcare venture.

“We are trying to look at potential liabilities as we are driving affordability in healthcare.”