Karnataka to invest on NRHM Projects

Karnataka health and family welfare department has planned to invest Rs.83 crore under the National Rural Health Mission(NRHM) where it is in the process of finalizing the public private partnerships (PPP) for five infrastructure projects that will help spur the healthcare activities and make the services more efficient in the state. The project is structured under BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer )will span for a period of five years.

The five projects are for the establishment of MRI centres at the Medical College Hospitals, provide dialysis services at Taluka level hospitals, set up a lab and diagnostic centre at district hospitals, facility management of two government hospitals in Bengaluru and a geriatric clinic cum in-patient wards at district hospitals on corporate social responsibility(CSR) mode, according to officials.

The establishment of MRI centres at Medical Colleges located at Belgaum, Shimoga, Mandya Bidar, Raichur and Hasan will cost Rs.40 crore. It will enhance the service capabilities at these facilities, expand the teaching capabilities, help provide the services to large number of underserved population at the neared possible location. It would also improve the quality medical care penetration in the state. The model could be replicated at other government hospitals. Currently the service charges for MRI is high and makes it unaffordable for the patients below the poverty line. Now these MRI centres will allow the underserved patients the access.

Setting up for dialysis services at taluka level hospitals located at Bijapur, Gulbarga and Raichur at the cost of Rs.18 crore for which the pre feasibility studies were submitted in May by the directorate of health and family welfare. The dialysis service centres will now offer patient at an affordable cost. These patients will not need to travel far to get dialysis every time, said the officials.

The opening up of laboratory and diagnostic centres at the district hospitals in Gulbarga, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada at a cost of Rs.18 crore will help perform tests at the district government hospitals.

source:http://pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=70014&sid=1