UP govt plans corporate hospitals

In a bid to improve its near defunct public health services and provide modern medical care to poor patients, Uttar Pradesh government is contemplating to go for corporate hospitals under public-private partnership.

The health department has chalked out a plan and it is under consideration, said a health official.

The plan envisages persuading corporate houses to set up super speciality hospitals in the state for which government will be giving them land on subsidised rates, added the official.

“The only condition will be that hospitals will have to spend a portion of their income on the treatment of poor and needy patients,” sources said.

The government also plans to encourage big diagnostic centres to set up their centres inside government hospitals, or even at primary health centres on community health centres in rural areas.

Specialised units

The private hospitals can also set up specialised units within  government hospital premises.

“It can be a super-specialised ward or a surgical unit for complex surgeries,” the official said.

The government is considering to allow primary health centres and community health centres to be run by private organisations like a trust, an NGO or a private medical college.

It will provide financial assistance to these private organisations, the source added.
The plan will be sent to the state cabinet for its approval, the source said.
Health services are in shambles in Uttar Pradesh especially after the multi-crore National Rural Health Mission scam.

The state is reeling under acute shortage of doctors, especially in the rural areas.