Laying the foundation for King’s College Hospital (KCH) - IUIH (Indo-UK Institute of Health) Medicity coming up at Navuluru in Guntur district on Wednesday, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu gave a further boost to the transformation of Amaravati into a medical tourism hub.
He thanked KCH Chairman Lord Robert Kerslake, and IUIH Managing Director and CEO Ajay Rajan Gupta for agreeing to make the facility coming up in Amaravati, the headquarters for 11 such hospitals being established in India at a cost of ₹17,000 crore.
Mr. Naidu said he was indebted to the farmers who gave their lands for the construction of the capital city, which was attracting global talent, and investments into projects like the KCH-IUIH Medicity.
R&D units
Apart from a medical university, the KCH-IUIH Medicity would have dedicated oncology and cancer liver transplantation centres and a host of R&D units.
The Chief Minister said the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) being set up at Mangalagiri, a world-class hospital proposed to be established by L.V. Prasad Eye Institute and 13 medical colleges which are on the anvil in the capital region bear testimony to the fact that Amaravati was the most happening place as far as the healthcare sector was concerned.
Lord Robert Kerslake said the Amaravati project was a significant step in the collaboration of the Indian and British governments, for the development of healthcare in India.
Modi’s visit
The partnership began during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to London when he sought the cooperation of his counterpart at that time, David Cameron, for improving healthcare facilities in India with the support of UK’s National Health Services, which is rated as one of the best in the world.
Union Minister’s promsie
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said the KCH-IUIH Medicity at Amaravati was the second one to have the foundation laid for, the first one being Nagpur, and promised to extend all possible help for implementation of the projects.
Member of Parliament of UK Andrew Mitchell, First Secretary of International Trade of the British High Commission Haden Spicer, British Deputy High Commissioner Bharat Joshi and A.P. Ministers Kamineni Srinivas and P. Narayana were present.