Gujarat govt to start six private colleges under its Health Policy 2016

Ahmedabad: The State of Gujarat under its Health Policy 2016, has announced the establishment of six brownfield self financed medical colleges . The colleges will be established in the districts of Tapi, Dahod, Panchmahals, Banaskantha, Bharuch and Amreli. This will be done through upgradation of the government hospitals in these areas on a Public Private partnership (PPP), model. The announcement has the state take a lead in the health sector, for it is an indication to its objectives to reach modern health facilities to remote areas of the state and also overcome paucity of doctors in these areas. The state is also promoting establishment of Greenfield medical colleges through private players.

The Gujarat health policy, 2016, is to take its final form by 2022. The policy announcement was done by the Minister of State for Health, Shankar Chaudhary, in the presence of Principal Secretary,(Health & Family Welfare, Medical Education & Medical Services), Pankaj Kumar and J P Gupta (Health Commissioner). On the occasion of the policy announcement, the health minister spoke of private parties being promoted by the government in the form of providing them with government hospital buildings; and land on lease to fulfill the requirement of a minimum 300 bed health hub for a medical college. Organizations eligible for the task, will be given many other benefits and the state government would sign a detailed "service agreement" with them for it.

The minister also spoke of the state government's plan to encourage private entrepreneurs to initiate Greenfield medical colleges, in accordance with the Medical Council of India's stipulations.

The minister stated that private players keen on participating in establishing greenfield medical colleges will also get reliefs like land at 50% of the market price. He also said that hospitals associated with greenfield colleges will be given the benefits of Mukhya Mantri Amrutam Yojana.

Private participants in the government plan to reach super specialty services to the rural and interior areas, would enjoy a range of benefits from the health ministry, for their participation in this task.

The health ministry also plans to offer 30% financial aid to private bodies for purchase of diagnostic instruments agreeing to work in the marked 49 backward talukas, where the state government plans to take basic diagnostic facilities.