As the Government is not able to deliver proper healthcare at its hospitals due to financial crunch, a new concept of Society Hospital is taking shape. International Finance Corporation (IFC) has come up with an idea of providing finance to Government hospitals, with half of the beds, half seats of medical colleges would be paid ones. Team of IFC alongwith Joint Director, Medical Education, Dr Ajay Chandanwale, on Wednesday took stock of new projects being taken up at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH). The team is on two-day visit during which it would take stock of new projects being planned by the hospital. It would run on Public Private Partnership (PPP) concept. IGGMCH at present has 150 seats for MBBS and about 800 beds. According to sources roughly 75 students, means half of the total intake, would have to pay the fees equivalent to what private medical colleges charge. Rest 75 students will pay the fees as per the Government rules. Similarly, half of the beds would be paid ones and for remaining beds would be free for patients. According to experts, there are several people who don’t prefer private hospital, except for its ambience.

 

They would go for Government for quality treatment if its hospital wears a asthetic look. Considering this aspect the ‘Society Hospital’ concept was brought. The agency like IFC would share the profit, while Government would have full control. The IFC will look after the finances needed to run the new projects by the hospital concerned. The team visited IGGMCH and Dr Ambedkar Hospital at Indora to check the feasibility of new projects and at Bhandara to take stock of new proposed hospital there. The team would be visiting Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Super Specialty Hospital, Rashtra Sant Tukadoji Regional Cancer Hospital. The project is being implemented all over the State. Central Government has planned to set up one Government Hospital in every district which will need huge money. Mission IFC will finance these hospitals and bring the facilities required. At present Government healthcare system has to wait to get every single advanced equipment for long.

 

With the entry of IFC, everything will be streamlined. Meanwhile Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Student Federation has strongly objected to this move. Federation has termed the move as plan of privatisation of the Government hospitals. The organisation has said that this would deprive several people of lower middle class to get free of cost treatment. Half of the students from poor background won’t be able to get admissions to Government hospitals. The organisation has sent letters to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh. Many Government hospitals in the state are not able to provide services to patients lack of manpower is one of the factors. A committee headed by the Director of Medical Education is visiting and inspecting various Government hospitals in the state.