Dr Bhaskar Rao, Founder Chairman, KIMS Hospitals, a cardiothoracic surgeon who has has performed over 30,000 surgeries and an entrepreneur speaks how the healthcare sector in Assam can become better and made affordable
India can provide better heathcare than the USA, UK and other countries. It takes months for an appointment and for a scan in the western world. India can do a lot and Assam in particular could do a lot. A public-private partnership model is what is needed to take healthcare to the masses, the Government alone will not be able to do everything, said Dr Bhaskar Rao, Founder Chairman, KIMS Hospitals at the IndiGlobal Bharat Summit held in IIT Guwahati. Organised by IndiGlobal Media Network with an aim to bring all stake holders onto a single platform to analyse and debate the important sectors in the state of Assam and to forge long-term relationships, the summit was a huge success.
Addressing the huge gathering numbering close top 2,000 at the Bhupen Hazarika Hall at the IIT Guwahati campus, Dr Bhaskar Rao said that India spends 2.9 % of GDP in heathcare which is just not enough and given the magnanimity of the population, PPP will fill the gaps in the sector. He further added that 10,000 beds provide employment to 2 lakh people. Citing reasons why a PPP model is the best Dr Bhaskar Rao said that 30% amount goes in taxes and 70% goes in establishing infrastructure. Hence, the government and the private players could come together with a proper plan.
Dr Bhaskar said that on an average KIMs absorbs 1,000 nurses and a good 300 nurses are from the northeastern states. The scope that Assam has in heathcare sector is huge and by setting up hospitals in Guwahati employment can be provided and at the same time, good healthcare. However, he added that the State Government needs to have a clear policy for a PPP.