Uttarakhand launches PPP health initiatives

The Uttarakhand government yesterday launched the public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives in the health sector by signing two memoranda of understanding (MoUs), one with Fortis Group to set up a 50-bed critical cardiac care unit (CCCU), and a nephrology centre in government hospitals.

The government has roped in Fortis group to set up the CCCU at the government Coronation hospital here where facilities like angioplasty, angiography, diagnostic lab, intensive care unit (ICU), pathology lab would be provided, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said.

He said the cardiac unit which will function round the clock will be set up on the ‘built, operate and transfer’ (BOT) basis. For BPL families, the cardiac care facilities will be free of cost, Nishank said.

Uttarakhand Health Secretary Uma Kant Pawar and Fortis Group Director Ashish Bhatia signed the MoU in the presence of the Chief Minister here.

In yet another PPP move, the government signed the MOU with Chandigarh-based Rahi Care Pvt Ltd to set up a nephrology unit at the government base hospital at Haldwani town in Kumaon region. Under the agreement, the Rahi Care will operate the new nephrology centre for 10 hours every day.

The centre will have 13 dialyses machines, Nishank added.

Meanwhile, Nishank also announced that a new medical college will be set up at the government Doon hospital shortly.