GC Holdings said it entered into a shareholders agreement (SHA) with Phenikaa Group, a Vietnamese conglomerate, to establish Vietnam's first comprehensive diagnostic and interpretation institution specializing in genetics and cancer.

The venture aims to leverage GC Lab's extensive expertise to establish a state-of-the-art commercial laboratory in Vietnam. Also, GC i-MED, a subsidiary specializing in comprehensive health check-ups, plans to set up a premium health check-up center targeting the local middle and upper classes.

GC plans to integrate advanced diagnostic programs into the laboratory, ensuring rapid and accurate results. The health check-up center will provide differentiated services using cutting-edge medical equipment and digital solutions, with Korean specialists conducting endoscopic examinations.

The comprehensive health check-up center will be located within one of the four buildings of the Phenikaa Group's new 800-bed general hospital in Hanoi's Nam Từ Liêm district, which is currently in its final construction phase and set to open next month.

Phenikaa Group, a leading Vietnamese conglomerate with over 30 subsidiaries across industries such as technology, education, and healthcare, will handle local marketing and operations for the new healthcare venture.

"GC plans to actively enter the Southeast Asian healthcare market, starting with Vietnam, by combining its expertise in diagnostic testing with its specialization in digital healthcare," a company official said.