Blackstone has completed a significant merger in India's healthcare sector, combining its portfolio firm Quality Care India Ltd with Aster DM Healthcare, resulting in a new entity valued at approximately $5 billion. With a 30.7% stake, Blackstone becomes the largest shareholder in Aster DM Quality Care Limited, which will operate 38 hospitals and 10,150 beds across 27 cities, positioning it among India's top three hospital chains. Ganesh Mani, Blackstone's senior managing director, expressed the firm's intent to explore further inorganic growth opportunities nationwide, aiming to exceed 13,000 beds in just over two years.