In a bid to boost the healthcare sector, Gujarat government has invited expressions of interest (EOIs) for setting up a medicity in the state, on the lines of Medanta in Gurgaon. The state government hopes to see EOIs for the medicity to come up before the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit (VGGIS) that will be held in January 2011.
A medicity is an integrated township of super-speciality hospitals, diagnostic centers, medical colleges, and R&D, apart from other amenities like shopping malls and hotels.
"We are hosting an international seminar on responsive and inclusive healthcare in Gandhinagar on Tuesday. The event will try to encourage public private partnership (PPP) in healthcare as well as development of healthcare infrastructure in Gujarat. We have also invited EOIs for a medicity in the state," said Jaynarayan Vyas, minister for health, family welfare and tourism, Government of Gujarat. Apparently, the concept is being tried in as many as six states.
Apart from encouraging public private partnerships, the seminar on 'Fostering Healthcare for All' will focus on pertinent issues and investment projects into Gujarat for rapid expansion and reach of healthcare services to masses, using novel approaches and technologies to leapfrog performance in this maturing sector of markets.
"We have already seen some of the successful projects in Gujarat as far as healthcare is concerned. For instance, apart from a successful 108 ambulance service across several cities in Gujarat, the civil hospital in Ahmedabad, is taking the total number of beds to 5,000. Through seminar we intend to encourage more such successful projects," said Vyas.
The seminar will invite a range of sectoral experts and will provide a platform for health professionals from both public and private sectors.
Key decision makers in the government, along with solution providers, health practitioners and insurers, industry associations and academics, will also be participate in the seminar to explore the future of medical care in Gujarat.