Fortis plans huge investment for medical services

New Delhi: Hospital chain Fortis Healthcare plans to invest Rs 3,000 crore in Punjab in the next 10 years for augmenting and expanding medical services in the state.

Fortis has submitted a proposal 'Fortis Strategic Health Plan' to the state government to upgrade healthcare services in the state through PPP model, offering to invest Rs 3,000 crore over the next 10 years.

'In order to make Punjab a role model for other states, particularly in the field of medical facilities, we have submitted an exhaustive plan to improve the healthcare facilities in the state through public-private-partnership (PPP) model,' Fortis Healthcare CEO and MD Shivinder Singh said.

The plan includes revamping Baba Farid University and Guru Gobind Singh Medical College at an estimated expenditure of Rs 800 crore.

Also, the company proposes to set up a medical research centre 'Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences' in Mohali with an investment of Rs 340 crore.

Fortis is also planning to set up two medical education hubs in the state, one at Mohali and other one at Ludhiana, with a total investment of Rs 1,500 crore.

Under the proposal, Fortis also suggested setting up five nursing colleges in state, one cancer institute and research centre at Mohali, one civil hospital each in Bhatinda, Badal and Hoshiarpur.

The healthcare chain has asked for certain concessions from the state, which includes providing land at notional prices for project development in case of greenfield ventures wherein the entire capital expenditure will be borne by the Fortis Group.