Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Vijay Nehra has written to the Health Department of Andhra Pradesh, asking it to expand the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for improved delivery of healthcare services to people.
According to a release by the Health Department on Wednesday, the letter, dated January 12, was sent to Health Secretary Saurabh Gaur. Recently, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda wrote to the State government on how the PPP model could be utilised effectively in expanding medical education. Mr. Nehra’s letter is a follow-up to that, said the release.
The letter contained a 27-page document with suggestions on how to improve the delivery of various medical services through the PPP model. The suggestions were made in five key areas—nuclear medicine, radiology, cancer daycare centres, dental clinics and mobile medical units, where the PPP model can bridge the gap between demand and availability of medical services, according to officials.
Mr. Nehra suggested that the department could adopt the PPP model to improve services being provided to patients suffering from cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases.
Compared to the requirement for nuclear medicine services in semi-urban and urban areas, its availability is low. Moreover, given the rapid rate at which cancer is spreading, Mr. Nehra stressed the need to make PET-CT scan, SPECT imaging, and radiotherapy services available to people in rural and semi-urban areas.
He expressed concern over the inadequate dental equipment and doctors in Community Health Centres (CHCs), at a time when 60% to 90% of people across all age groups suffer from dental issues.
He suggested that the dental services be strengthened at PHCs through the PPP model. He added that the model would help expand the availability of X-Ray, CT, and MRI machines.
Mr. Nehra noted that cancer daycare centres can be established through the PPP model. He added that the Centre’s goal is to set up such facilities in government hospitals by 2027-28, and 14 centres have been sanctioned for Andhra Pradesh.
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