The Hindu Business Line : TN sees more role for private sector in primary healthcare

Corporate social responsibility: (From left) The President and CEO, GE Healthcare, India, Mr V. Raja; the Tamil Nadu Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr M.R.K. Paneerselvam; and the Principal Health Secretary, Mr V.K. Subburaj, at the signing of an MoU in Chennai on Wednesday. —

Our Bureau

Chennai, July 22

About 1,248 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Tamil Nadu are in need of upgrading, and the Government wants the private sector to get involved in doing this.

Mr M. R. K. Pannerselvam, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, said that it would help if the private sector looks at upgrading the healthcare centres as part of their corporate social responsibility activities.

The Minister was addressing media persons on the sidelines of an event held to announce GE Healthcare partnering with the State Government to upgrade the Banavaram PHC in Vellore district.

So far, 285 PHCs have been upgraded under the public-private partnership model and the number of delivering at these centres has jumped four-fold to 13,504 a year in the last three years, said Mr Subburaj, Principal Health Secretary, Tamil Nadu.

Dharamapuri, Sivakasi, Kallakurichi, Tiruvallur, Vizhupuram, Madurai and Cuddalore districts have seen witnessed a rise in deliveries to 30 a month compared with the State average of 16.

The State Government authorising deputy directors of healthcare centres to enter into tie-ups with the private sector to renovate and u grade these centres has seen a slew of such partnerships, said Mr Pannerselvam.

GE Healthcare and GE’s Asia-Pacific American Forum have contributed about Rs 45 lakh for a two-year programme that will include creating a medical technology infrastructure at Banavaram PHCand training its employees in their use.

At the end of the two-year programme, all equipment would be donated to the PHC.

Asked why GE Healthcare chose Banavaram PHC, Mr V. Raja, President and Chief Executive Officer, GE Healthcare South Asia, said it was one of the well managed centres in the State.

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