Bengal govt to set up Drug Corporation

Kolkata, Feb 21 (UNI) West Bengal government is planning to set up a Drug Corporation to facilitate the government hospitals by supplying drugs and offering other services.

Speaking at a news conference here today, State Health Minister Dr Surya Kanta Mishra said, ''We are setting up this Corporation based on the model of various southern states. The Corporation will supply drugs, equipment and maintenance services to various government hospitals.'' The proposal would be mooted once the proposal was passed in the state Cabinet.

Speaking on the state government's future plans in regard to enhancing health services in the state, Dr Mishra said the government was focusing more on the PPP model. ''But there are a very few private players who are intersted in entering into private-public-partnership model. The response from the private players is very poor", he said "In a bid to make the health care services more transparent, we have urged the private players to introduce hasslefree and quality services. Simultaneously the private players should penetrate more into the rural segment offering OPD services,'' he said.

UNI