Bengal to add 17,000 beds in government hospitals

The West Bengal Government will add 17,000 beds across the State-run hospitals at a cost of ₹2,600 crore by the end of this fiscal.

Following this, the capacity at State-run health care facilities is expected to move up to 80,000 from the existing 63,000.

According to Malay Kr De, Principal Secretary, State Health Department, ₹250 crore more will be spent towards addition and upgrading of cancer and cardiac care facilities.

Funding will be through government resources.

More super specialities “Of the 17,000 beds that we intend to add by the end of this fiscal, 13,500 will be across super-speciality hospitals whereas the remaining 3,500 will be in other facilities,” he said. De was speaking on the sidelines of the “Evolving Healthcare Investment Landscape” organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The State government has also planned to set up 34 multi-speciality hospitals. While one such hospital will come up in August, six more are expected to be opened during 2016-17.

Cancer and cardiac care According to De, the State government will also look at improving facilities for cardiac care, cancer care and treatment of blood disorders.

Ramping up cancer care facilities include procuring linear accelerators for chemotherapy. Currently, none of the government facilities have the equipment.

This apart, it will also be procuring cath-labs, radio therapy units and so on. “Such treatments will be provided free of cost,” he added.

An agreement has also been made with a Singapore-based healthcare institute to provide technical support and training to State government healthcare staff.