Kolkata To Get First Neuro Centre of International Standard by 2007

Joy Roy Choudhury - Kolkata

Kolkatans are a step away from receiving the neuro-surgical treatment of international standard with the city set to have the first of such facility by 2007. ‘Institute of Neuro Sciences’, to be set in the heart of the city, is being jointly promoted by the State Government, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and the Centre.

It is one of the State’s first public-private-participation (PPP) initiatives in the healthcare sector. The 150-bed Neuro Centre will offer concessional rates to people from the lower income group.

West Bengal’s Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who laid the foundation stone said, “This institute will transform the state of healthcare in the Eastern Region. People from the entire Eastern region will get quality healthcare.”

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 30 crore in the initial phase. The Institute has raised Rs five crore by donation.

“The first phase of work would involve Rs 20 crore, of which the Institute has accumulated Rs five crore in donations. The State is likely to provide a soft loan for the remaining amount,” State’s Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said.

“I will apply for a loan of Rs 10 crore. We hope the remaining money will be raised through donations,” said Dr R P Sengupta, Chairman of Institute of Neuro Sciences.

The State will have a 0.5 per cent stake in the project, KMC will have 24.5 per cent stake and the remaining stakes will be held by the NRI doctors who are promoting the hospital.

The hospital will have reserved seats for KMC employees and 10 per cent for poor people. “We will make available more facilities to the poor, if we can generate substantial revenue from affluent patients,” Dr Sengupta added.