By David Winning

SYDNEY--Ramsay Health Care Ltd. resumed dividend payments even as its half-year net profit fell by 13%, reflecting divergent pressures on its global network of private hospitals created by the coronavirus pandemic

Infection rates remain high in countries such as the U.K. and France, forcing private hospitals there to suspend elective surgery and free up beds for those sickened with the virus. In contrast, Ramsay's operations in Australia have largely returned to normal as the number of people requiring ongoing treatment for Covid-19 is low.

Ramsay reported a net profit of 226 million Australian dollars (US$180 million) for the six months through December, down from A$258.4 million a year earlier.

"Our first-half result reflects the disruption caused by further waves of Covid-19 cases restricting surgical activity and other services across all our regions," said Managing Director Craig McNally.

Directors of the company declared an interim dividend of 48.5 Australian cents a share, representing a payout ratio of 50% of statutory profit. "The resumption of dividend payments reflects the board's confidence in the strong balance sheet and cashflows of the business," Ramsay said.

Management kept annual guidance for earnings withdrawn, citing uncertainty created by the pandemic.

Ramsay's global footprint has been a steady source of revenue and earnings in recent years, but it offered little protection when the coronavirus spread outside of China to the major markets where it has hospitals.

In Asia-Pacific, Ramsay said revenue from patients rose by 0.5% to A$2.72 billion in the half-year period, while earnings before interest and tax--or ebit--dropped 28% to A$303.3 million.

Ramsay said the impact of a lockdown in Victoria state in the period on its operating result was A$70 million.

In the U.K., revenue from patients fell by 83%, but it received A$394.5 million in revenue from government agreements.

Revenue from patients in continental Europe declined by 0.8%, but Ramsay said it received payments from the French government for revenue and cost support, along with some cost support in parts of the Nordics for the use of its facilities and services.

Write to David Winning at david.winning@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

02-24-21 1721ET