Invest in health care, J

Srinagar, Apr 16 (UNI) Inviting private investment in the health sector, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad had said Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is imperative to develop and extend latest medical facilities to people living in every corner of the state.

The 18-year-long turmoil in the state has adversely affected every aspect of life, including health sector, Mr Azad said and announced that under National Rural Health Mission, 70 sub-district and community health centres are being upgraded to National Public Health Standards.

Speaking on the occasion of silver jubilee celebration at SKIMS here today, Mr Azad said it is not possible for any government and much less for Jammu and Kashmir to spend unlimited resources on medicare as modern diagnostic tools and equipments cost quiet a lot of money.

''I am, therefore, open to the idea of public-private partnership,'' he state.

''My Government has given a package of incentives to attract private sector investment in hospitals,'' he said and added that under this mode the land provided would be state's equity and the land shall remain in the name of state health department.

Mr Azad explaining the scheme said private party would construct a separate block for poor patients to get treatment free of cost.

He added government would depute its officer as administrator of the block to ensure that poor patients receive similar treatment as compared to those patients who would pay for the treatment.

He said our state is deficient in quality healthcare infrastructure which necessitates shifting of patients for treatment to Chandigarh, Delhi and other cites of the country.

The PPP hospitals would fill this gap, he claimed.

This aspect should have attracted the attention of the government in the past and by now a chain of such hospitals should have come up functional in different parts of the state supplementing the infrastructure created by the government in healthcare sector, he said.

The Chief Minister added that three sites have been acquired and handed over to health department in Pulwama and Budgam districts for establishment of multi-specialty hospitals on the pattern of reputed private sector hospitals functioning in New Delhi and other metropolitan cities of the country.

Similarly, he said, land for such hospitals in Jammu, Samba, Udhampur and Kathua districts is being identified.

Indraprasth Apollo Health Care Group, Fortis India and Larson and Turbo Group have been short listed for public-private partnership in health care sector, he said, adding that government is waiting for their detailed proposals.

He said those who are willing to set up chain of hospitals would be given preference.

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