Asia Heart plans 19 district clinics

Asia Heart Foundation (AHF), promoted by renowned cardiac surgeon, Devi Prasad Shetty, has embarked upon an ambitious task of setting up hospitals, affordable to the masses, in all the nineteen districts of West Bengal.

The project is a part of Shetty's effort to add 20,000 hospital beds across the country within the next two-three years.

To begin with, the hospital had identified land in Siliguri, and talks were on with the West Bengal government for similar projects in the outskirts of Kolkata, Shetty said.

Earlier, speaking at the graduation and valediction ceremonies of the College of Nursing and School of Nursing, Asia Heart Foundation, Shetty said, "We want to be present in every city. The model of the hospitals which we are trying to set, will be in between the government and corporate hospitals."

Shetty also said, nursing as a profession, has never been actively promoted by the government, due to its myopic outlook.

"Today, as we talk about equitable growth, our approach is how to create additional jobs. The IT sector enjoys all the privileges by the government. However, to have a Rs 1 crore turnover in an IT company, hardly five-ten people are required, whereas for hospital to have the same turnover, about 200 people are required. "

He also urged the policy-makers to revise the curriculum of the state-run nursing colleges in keeping with the requirements of nursing jobs in the US and UK.

"In 1995, a liquor company earned acclamation from the government for earning dollars worth Rs 5-10 crore. When a nurses working in foreign country every month sends Rs 20,000 home, ever penny gets utilised for a social cause," he said.

Surjya Kanta Mishra, minister for health and family welfare, government of West Bengal, said, there was a huge shortage of manpower in government hospitals.

He also said, the state intended to upgrade the rural hospitals to institutional delivery centres. Sanchita Baksi, director, health services, department of health and family welfare, West Bengal, said, the state hospitals recruited about 4,000 nurses last year.