The Hindu : Bengal bid to boost healthcare with private help

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 04, 2004

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National

Bengal bid to boost healthcare with private help

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA JAN. 3. The Left Front Government in West Bengal is planning to partner with the private sector to spruce up health facilities.

This is the first time that a comprehensive health policy is being prepared for the State, it is learnt.

An important role is envisaged for private and voluntary organisations.

State Government officials said that private organisations were expected to play a major role in drawing up the policy framework while the main function of the voluntary organisations would be to increase awareness among the people on the need to improve facilities.

One of the reasons the State Government is encouraging private and voluntary organisations is their impressive performance in the ongoing battle against polio.

The health policy will be finalised only after the six-member high-level committee — formed in accordance with the directions of the Kolkata High Court — completes its investigations into the State's infrastructure that came under the scanner following a number of deaths in government hospitals.

The West Bengal Health University, set up a year ago, is also playing an important part.

Apart from being the nodal point for all medical colleges, the university will contribute to increasing the corpus of knowledge on health issues.

According to the Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the objective of improving the healthcare apparatus was to make Bengal self-sufficient in the treatment of all ailments.

"I would like to see patients coming to the State for treatment, instead of travelling outside," the Chief Minister said.

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