7 proposals to set up medical colleges get govt clearance

Ahemadabad: The government in its attempt to double medical seats and decrease doctor patient ratio by half till 2022 has given an approval for seven proposals for setting up medical colleges in the state. Five proposals for converting government hospitals into public hospitals cum medical colleges( Brownfield Colleges) and two for establishing hospitals cum colleges (greenfield colleges) were given a government nod on Friday.

The state government has approved the proposals under the new health policy for the development of government hospitals into medical colleges run by the private sector.

Shankar Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, in a statement said that 10 proposals for Brownfield Colleges and 3 for Greenfield had come in after the government rolled out an invitation for applications for the same.

Chaudhary said that the Greenfield Medical Colleges approved under the new Health Scheme are: Nutan Sarva Vidhhyalaya Kelavani Mandal in Visnagar and KK Shah Sabarkantha Aroyaga Mandal in Vatrak. Under the Bownfield colleges category the colleges named include: Cadila Health Care -Dahod hospital, Sumal Research and Development Institute -Vyara hospital, Krish Education Foundation Vadodara – A Bharuch hospital, Galbabhai Nangibhai Patel Trust Banaskantha –A Palanpur hospital, and Shanaben Haribhai Gajera Trust –An Amreli hospital .

Substantial financial incentives have been announced by the government for greenfield and brownfield medical colleges as well as for new diagnostic centres in rural areas under the new health policy.

A financial subsidy up to Rs 75 crore will be given by the government to Greenfield Medical Colleges along with a 300-bed hospital in rural areas. and around 50% of this would go the Brownfield Medical Colleges cum hospitals way reports TOI.