KOLKATA: A public-private partnership model in the healthcare system envisaged by the state government has finally taken shape. In all probability, Kolkata Police will enter into an agreement with the M P Birla Group to run a state-of-the-art trauma care centre at Kolkata Police Hospital in Bhowanipore. While none in the government was willing to comment on the private partners roped in to give the 300-bed hospital a much-needed facelift, it is understood that the Group, now headed by Harsh Vardhan Lodha, will join hands with city police.
On August 12, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had outlined her vision for the trauma-care centre. People living below the poverty line and having BPL cards will get a discount of Rs 35,000 in the new facility. Others, who are not affluent but don't have BPL cards, could avail a three-day package by paying 50% of the total medical cost. The chief minister's personal initiative in the project could be gauged by the fact that she had sanctioned funds from MPLAD funds to enable procurement of trauma-care ambulances.
The chief minister also wanted the hospital to shed its "exclusive for policemen" tag and be open to general public as well. The hospital - right in the heart of the city at Bhowanipore's Beninandan Street - had the potential to be bigger in size with much better facilities, she had informed her aides.
The hospital, incidentally, started small back in 1897 in Amherst Street to treat contagious diseases which frequently plagued Kolkata Police personnel. In 1921, it was moved to its Bhowanipore location. Lodha, who runs the multi-speciality Belle View Clinic, confirmed the development, saying, "Plans have been submitted to build a state-of-the-art trauma care centre at the hospital."
Not elaborating, Dr Sudhir Mishra, additional commissioner of police (I), said, "A proposal has been submitted for government's consideration. We are keeping all options open. A decision to this effect will be taken shortly."
Belle View CEO Dr V Tandon only said, "I will be in a position to comment later."
Setting trauma-care units in government-run hospitals, including Kolkata Police Hospital, was a proposal mooted even during the erstwhile Left regime. Nearly Rs 16 crore was allocated for it. R G Kar Hospital was first in the block to have such a centre in place. The allocation was also meant for NRS Medical College, MR Bangur Hospital and six district hospitals.
At present, city police has 12 transit trauma care ambulances. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had provided six more to it. Plans are afoot to buy another 18 by the KMC and hand them over to police in phases. These ambulances will be parked in key intersections and will be equipped to dash all accident victims to the nearest trauma-care centre. These centres will have facilities for resuscitation, ICU ventilator, multi-channel monitor, infusion pump, blood gas analyzer, patient warming system, multi-purpose electro hydraulic OT tables and diathermy machines.
The police hospital is now reeling under severe manpower crunch. It has a sanctioned strength of 35 doctors, 62 nurses and 128 medical support staff. However, only 17 doctors are running the show at present, including a surgeon, a radiologist and an anesthetist. A Kolkata Police data shows these trauma-care ambulances do make a difference, with the past year's data showing that 12 trauma-care ambulances had dashed 484 patients to hospitals - only five had died.
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