GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government has approved four new brownfield medical colleges in Kheda, Mahisagar, Botad and Gir Somnath districts under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, with participating institutions required to preserve existing free hospital services and provide emergency treatment to accident victims without charge.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya announced the approvals, which involve upgrading existing district government hospitals into medical colleges with modern hospital facilities. The projects aim to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in underserved areas while increasing the availability of medical education seats across the state.
The institutions selected for the four projects are Shri Gayaprasad Jain Charitable Trust in Ahmedabad for Kheda, Shri Swaminarayan Vishwamangal Gurukul in Kalol, affiliated with Swaminarayan University, for Mahisagar, Shri Chanakya Education and Charitable Trust in Veraval for Gir Somnath, and Delta Millennium Medicare Private Limited in Bhadiyad, Morbi, for Botad.
Although the colleges will operate as self-financed institutions, the selected organisations must continue all existing free services provided by the hospitals. The conditions also include free treatment for pregnant women and children from 20 days after birth until they turn one year old.
Each facility must establish a dialysis unit with at least 10 beds and ensure immediate, free medical care for accident victims and patients requiring trauma treatment.
To monitor patient welfare and service planning, a Rogi Kalyan Samiti, or Patient Welfare Committee, will be formed for each project under the respective district collector.
Pansheriya said the initiative is intended to help residents access advanced medical treatment within their own districts and improve the availability of specialist doctors in government hospitals.
The state government expects the projects to improve access to specialised healthcare in rural and remote communities while expanding Gujarat’s medical education infrastructure.
