Rs. 3,000-crore worth proposals for health sector

Among the major projects that were discussed include three medical private colleges in Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode worth Rs. 1,200 crore

Proposals worth nearly Rs. 3,000 crore in the health sector have come up during the Emerging Kerala meet that began here on Wednesday. The infrastructure investment in the Life Science Park will be the Government contribution in supporting the proposals in the field to provide facilities to develop hi-tech products.

Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation has proposed to set up a ‘medical device hub’ for Rs. 300-400 crore that will provide infrastructural support to units interested in setting up these units.

Most of the proposals are in the private sector and among the major projects that were discussed by the stake holders include three medical private colleges in Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode worth Rs. 1,200 crore.

A Knowledge City proposal for nano biotechnology special zone for Rs. 875 crore, a healthcare village proposal for Rs. 320 crore, a drug manufacturing unit for Rs. 130 crore and an ayurveda college for Rs. 30 crore are some of them.

The Life Science Park would invite projects for drug manufacturing too, said Minister for Health V. S. Sivakumar. Many participants in the meeting had pointed out that there were few manufacturing units in the State.

The Park would include IT-based project for health sector such as bioinformatics, bioengineering, biotechnology.

Inaugurating the session here on Thursday, Mr. Sivakumar emphasised that the government recognises that the healthcare focus has shifted from communicable diseases to lifestyle diseases.

He said investments in paramedical personnel training, medical research, academic research and telemedicine would be welcomed.

Pointing out that ayurveda is not an alternative healthcare but the mainstream healthcare system of the State, he said participation of major players can make the State a global hub for ayurveda.

In spite of the good health parameters that the State enjoys compared to the rest of the country, the aim of the State was to lower the maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate during the 12 Five Year Plan, he said.