Patil was speaking after inaugurating the new facility of Sparsh Hospital on Infantry Road on Saturday.

"Providing excellent healthcare and international collaborations are important to dispel distrust in neighbouring countries. Foreign collaborations will help in actual globalisation," he said.

Patil, who is a former union home minister, said although India needed more medical colleges and hospitals, it must also go a step further by building research institutions.

Pact on exchange of expertise

The Sparsh Hospital has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Endo-Klinik, Hamburg, Germany and Indian Orthopaedic Society (UK).

Dr Sharan Patil explained that while the collaboration with the former would be in terms of exchange of expertise and skills, the latter would send medical students from UK to learn from doctors here.

"We will also have courses for doctors in India. It is unfortunate that we don't have enough expertise or skills. As a result, the longevity of prosthesis is a mere 2.5 years here, compared to 25 years abroad," Dr Patil said.

The new 120-bed facility of Sparsh will focus on specific problems like arthritis, cerebral palsy, sports medicine, non union (bones not uniting after fractures) and back pain. While the out-patient facility will start from May 4, the five operation theatres will be functional from May 9.