Maharashtra Government is tapping Public Private Partnership (PPP) route for establishment of new Radiology Centres at public hospitals in the State with an aim to strengthen healthcare facility for people. Alongside setting new units, private players will also be tasked with upgradation of existing Radiology units at Government Medical College and Hospitals (GMCHs) to better existing medical services.

 

For the same, Directorate of Medical Research (DMER) has identified 19 GMCHs across the State. Apart from straightening the infrastructure at these public hospitals, the State is also easing the financial burden that entails in purchasing these costly medical equipment, maintenance, salary of staff and, most importantly, timely replacement post advancement in technology. Also, with the State Government already deciding to establish medical college in each district, the accompanying need of a full-fledged public hospital requires heavy investment in creating the infrastructure. Given the financial constraints in setting up labs, the State opted for PPP mode to establish Radiology Centres.

 

As per the policy, the private player will be entrusted with Development, Operation and Maintenance of a statewide network of radiology laboratories for affixing advanced imaging machines like CT, MRI and PET-CT in Maharashtra. The Radiology Centres through PPP mode will be on design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) basis and, for this, GMCHs have been divided into two clusters, one is Mumbai (Cluster A) and second Nagpur (Cluster B). Further, the hospitals are segregated as Brownfield (where entire Radiology unit will be on PPP mode), and Greenfield (where part of the Centre will be run by a private party). Under Nagpur Cluster, there will be Dr Shankarrao Chavan Government Medical College, Vishnupuri, Nanded (Brownfield), Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal (Greenfield), Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital, Nagpur (Greenfield), Swami Ramanand Tirth Rural Government Medical College, Ambajogai, Beed (Brownfield), Dr Vaishampayan Memorial Government Medical College, Solapur (Brownfield), Government Medical College, Nagpur (Greenfield), and Government Medical College, Chandrapur (Brownfield). In Mumbai list, the hospitals being covered include Shri Bhausaheb Hire Government Medical College, Dhule, Government Medical College, Aurangabad, (both Brownfield), Grant Medical College and Sir J J. Group of Hospitals, Mumbai (Greenfield), St George's Hospital, Mumbai (Brownfield), Gokuldas Tejpal Hospital, Mumbai (Greenfield), Cama & Albless Hospital, Mumbai (Brownfield), Padma Bhushan Vasantraodada Patil Government Hospital, Sangli (Greenfield), Government Medical College Hospital, Miraj, Sangli (Brownfield), Government Medical College Baramati, Pune (Brownfield), Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune (Brownfield), Rajarshee Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj Government Medical College and Chhatrapati Pramilatai Raje Hospital, Kolhapur (Brownfield), and Vilasrao Deshmukh Government Medical College, Latur (Brownfield). DMER said, the facility would be utilised for training of medical students in the Radiology Centres under the long-term concession agreement.

 

As per the policy, the Clusters will be granted operational period of 11 years in first term with the option of extension for an additional period as per the terms of concession agreement to be inked between respective authorities and the concessionaire. When asked about the scheme, Dr Aarti Anand, Head of Department, Radiology, GMC, Nagpur, stated that DMER has finalised the policy that is surely going to benefit new GMCHs as they will have high end scanning machines from the beginning. The charges for Government Hospital patients would be reasonable, and as to other private patients, it would be dependent on the private party running the facility. However, DMER would finalise the details of charges during the discussion while inking agreement with the concessionaire, she added. She praised the DMER’s decision of going for PPP mode in Radiology Centres saying that even otherwise there is shortage of Radiologist in the Government sector. With entry of private players perhaps Government Medical Colleges can benefit largely. However, lot of policy details is yet not clear, whether the centre would function independently or GMCs would have administrative control. In time to come as the labs are set-up the details would emerge.

 

 

 

As to Nagpur end, Dr Aarti Anand said, at their college, PET- CT machine is going to be installed by the private party, as same is most advanced that comes handy for detection of range of cancers, heart diseases, neurological conditions, infections and PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin). For a Radiology Centre about 1500 to 2000 sq.ft. land is required and the private operator would set up the machines. As per the agreement, the patients referred by GMC would get preference at the centre. The private operator can also cater to needs of patients outside the Government run hospital, although the policy is yet not clear. Asked about the future scope, Dr Anand agreed that as inventions in medical science progress rapidly, various advanced machines are coming up. So in case GMCs need new high end machines, they would no longer have to wait for State finance as the private players might install them at existing Radiology Centres.