16 April 2010
By Surbhi Khyati
Lucknow, India
Large hospital chains like Apollo, Max and Fortis have shown interest in the state’s project to run public health facilities on a Public–Private Partnership model. The first bids for running health units in four districts were opened on Thursday.
Under the project, the public healthcare centers have been grouped into units – comprising a district hospital, two community health centres and primary healthcare centers and sub–centers under them. Initially, four units in Allahabad, Basti, Kanpur and Ferozabad are to be taken up. Six companies have submitted bids.
“We have received three bids for Basti, two for Kanpur and Allahabad each and one for Ferozabad,” said a senior health official.
The bids for Allahabad were cancelled as the companies did not meet the basic requirements. Ferozabad did not receive a minimum of two bids required under rules.
“But the process of evaluation is going on, we will shortlist the companies and invite bids,” said a member of the Bids Evaluation Committee.
The selected companies will be required to set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – in which the state government will have an 11 per cent share – to run the unit.
The firms will provide all facilities the government is giving these health centers at the same cost. They will also provide additional facilities prescribed by the government, for which they can charge accordingly.
They will also be expected to increase the number of beds in community health centres from the existent 30 to 80 or more.
They will also recruit and manage the personnel and be responsible for running the OPD and IPD services.
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