Medical service provider Fortis Health Care plans to set up an institute, which will also house a cancer research hospital, in Punjab at an initial investment of Rs 100 crore.
"We have submitted a detailed plan to Punjab Government to upgrade the healthcare services in the state which includes setting a medical education centre that would include nursing school, OPD centre and a large cancer hospital," Fortis Healthcare CEO Shivinder Singh said.
State officials said Fortis' plans include setting up a chain of medical centre on a private-public-partnership model.
The total investments in the initial phase would be to the tune of Rs 100 crore, the officials said.
Fortis is looking at setting up a large hospital with capacity of 100-250 beds linked to the OPD services, the officials said, adding the firm was looking at replicating the model in other parts of the state.
A high rate of cancer in Punjab, particularly in Malwa region, and absence of proper treatment facilities force people to go to hospitals in neighbouring state of Rajasthan.
The hospital would also help in providing medical care to the patients coming from across the border, officials said.
According to the data available with the government a large number of patients from countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan come to India via Amritsar for treatment and there is a big demand for a quality private hospital in the region.
"We are seriously concerned about the welfare of the people. As a company in the business of health care, we consider it imperative to provide the best possible medical aid to the people," Singh said.
The company had earlier said it was targeting to own 40 hospitals by 2011 and it can be through acquisitions, setting up greenfield facility or through PPP model.
