Covid-19 acts as catalyst in PPP model spike in city healthcare
Times of India | 3 June 2024
Kolkata: Covid has catalyzed healthcare collaboration between govt and private sector in diagnostics, technology, direct patient care, education and clinical research making affordable treatment accessible to a larger section of the population in Kolkata and Bengal, according to data collated by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) National Healthcare.While there has been 15%-20% growth in these areas since 2020, a further 30%-35% spike is expected over the next three-five years through private-public partnership schemes.
Several private hospitals have increased capacity since Covid and have plans to set up new units.
The pandemic and the consequent emergency situation triggered a multi-layered and multi-dimensional approach, like PPP initiatives in dialysis, imaging and critical care apart from direct patient care and a significant increase in bed count in Kolkata and the rest of state, said ICC National Healthcare chairman Prashant Sharma.
“Bengal govt has emerged as a key enabler and is proactively engaged with private sector in PPP in tertiary and secondary healthcare, on mutually beneficial terms and conditions. Successful PPP engagement is rapidly enhancing the quality of medical services in terms of setting up of fair price diagnostic, fair price pharma shops, dialysis units, audio vestibular centres, critical care units, ambulances services, nursing institutions and medical colleges in collaboration with various state-owned sub-division, rural, general and superspecialty hospitals. Such affordable quality healthcare is now accessible to 8.5 crore people,” said Sharma, also the MD of Charnock Hospital.
Multiple private partners like Apollo, B Braun and Nephroplus have aligned for dialysis centres partnered with various state governments to provide haemodialysis machines in PPP mode.
During Covid, the true size of healthcare facilities was recognised, said Narayana Hospitals COO R Venkatesh. “Most govt facilities, especially in rural or districts, are grossly underutilised due to lack of equipment or expertise. An ideal PPP would have initial investments for land, building and major equipment being put in by the public sector and operational aspects addressed by the private sector. A beginning has been made and we are hopefully moving towards that,” added Venkatesh.
Post-Covid growth will continue since healthcare needs and awareness have increased since the pandemic, said Manipal Hospitals MD & CEO Dilip Jose.
A unique feature of PPP in Bengal is the setting up of medical colleges. Santiniketan Medical College is the first PPP medical college to start is operation, while JIS and KPC (2nd campus) will follow soon.