Bengal to get health city

Burdwan, Jul 16 (UNI) West Bengal will get a health city under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model in Burdwan with an investment of around Rs 600 crore in the next five to six years.

In a bid to provide quality healthcare services and health education to the people, the state government has decided to include the private sector in the running of hospitals and health education institutions.

Burdwan Zilla Sabhadhipati Uday Sankar Sarkar said, ''The Bardhaman Development Authority has signed an agreement with Bengal CES Infratech Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Consulting Engineering Services (CES) India and the WBIDC, to set up the city in Burdwan, a major district town of the state''.

''Apart from a 500-bed multi-speciality hospital, the health city will have a medical college, a nursing college, paramedical school, polyclinic and residential accommodations for the employees,'' Mr Sarkar said.

The government would provide 60 acres of land near Durgapur Expressway (NH-2) and GT Road, at a price of around Rs nine crores, to a consortium comprising Bengal CES Infratech Pvt Ltd and FAITH Healthcare Pvt Ltd.

CES India Managing Director S S Chakraborty has said that there would be a separate welfare fund for the economically poorer section in terms of health insurance, health cards, and coupons.

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