Dünyagöz will open the most skillful eye hospital in Europe in Germany’s Frankfurt on June 1, before another branch in London later this year, according to Eray Kapıcıoğlu, the chairman of the chain.

The Frankfurt hospital cost 8 million euros, Kapıcıoğlu said, during a Tuesday press conference in Istanbul to mark the company’s 15th anniversary. It will offer treatment to some 8,000 patients from Turkey who are waiting for cornea treatments as the Turkish government banned cornea implants some five years ago, he said.

Dünyagöz invested nearly $350 million in the business over the last 15 years, he said. “We plan to accelerate our overseas investments and open new branches in Russia, Ukraine and Gulf countries next year.”

The 61 million-euro company investment plan covers a 31 million-euro portion for this year and another 30 million euros for 2012.

“We will employ another 1,200 people in next two years,” the chairman said.

The plan covers six domestic investments in cities including İzmir, Konya, Erzurum and Bursa.

The group also will launch a public offering in the wake of these investments, the official announced.

The Health Ministry in Turkey complains about the lack of sufficient facilities in the country but then bars new hospitals, according to Dr. Kazım Devarnoğlu, the medical director of the group.

The Turkish regulation bans the opening of new hospitals and offers acquisitions within the sector instead, he said