Kolkata, Jan 18, 2006
Joy Roy Choudhury
Indian Express
Kolkatans are a step away from receiving the neuro-surgical
treatment of international standard with the city
set to have the first of such facility by 2007. ‘Institute
of Neuro Sciences’, to be set in the heart of
the city, is being jointly promoted by the State Government,
Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Centre.
It is one of the State’s first public-private-
participation (PPP) initiatives in the healthcare
sector. The 150-bed Neuro Centre will offer concessional
rates to people from the lower income group
It is one of the State’s first public-private-participation
(PPP) initiatives in the healthcare sector. The 150-bed
Neuro Centre will offer concessional rates to people
from the lower income group.
West Bengal’s Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee,
who laid the foundation stone said, “This institute
will transform the state of healthcare in the Eastern
Region. People from the entire Eastern region will
get quality healthcare.”
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 30 crore
in the initial phase. The Institute has raised Rs
five crore by donation.
“The first phase of work would involve Rs 20
crore, of which the Institute has accumulated Rs five
crore in donations. The State is likely to provide
a soft loan for the remaining amount,” State’s
Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said.
“I will apply for a loan of Rs 10 crore. We
hope the remaining money will be raised through donations,”
said Dr R P Sengupta, Chairman of Institute of Neuro
Sciences.
The State will have a 0.5 per cent stake in the project,
KMC will have 24.5 per cent stake and the remaining
stakes will be held by the NRI doctors who are promoting
the hospital.
The hospital will have reserved seats for KMC employees
and 10 per cent for poor people. “We will make
available more facilities to the poor, if we can generate
substantial revenue from affluent patients,”
Dr Sengupta added.
