THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State Health Minister P. Sankaran said at a press meet here Thursday that the projects would benefit poor people the most. He said many state-run hospitals do not offer the advanced treatment and equipment made available by the private sector due to lack of funds. Some of the projects will be showcased at the two-day Global Investors Meet in Kochi from January 18. These include modernisation of five Medical College Hospitals, several primary and secondary health centres and even trauma care units that are today running with basic amenities only. "For example, an MRI scan today at a private hospital costs 6,000 whereas if we have an MRI scan facility set up with private investment at a government-run medical college, we will give it for 2,000," said Sankaran. He denied that investors would start charging exorbitantly if medical colleges sought investment from the private sector through the GIM. "In no way we would allow that. All conditions would be strictly enforced and no one would be able to charge on their own. We have worked out a system under which a Hospital Development Committee would be the supervising authority at hospitals where private investment takes place. "Fifty percent of the profit would go to the committee, while the investor would get the rest," said Sankaran. All those who do invest will be given the infrastructure free of cost, including space and basic amenities. Today many primary and secondary health centres are running short of even basic medicines. At several places even buildings are in a bad shape. Taking advantage of the dilapidated state of public healthcare, private hospitals have been mushrooming all over the state. "Whosoever is going to join hands in investing at government centres could expect good returns because the turnout of patients at these hospitals is very high," said an official source.
Source: IANS