Bhubaneswar, April 7: On World Health Day, the civic body has unveiled the perfect gift for citizens by signing the final agreement to develop the Greenfield Hospital and health care network in public-private-partnership mode here.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hyderbad-based Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences to set up the 400-bed multi-disciplinary Greenfield Hospital at Gadakana and upgrade five existing dispensaries at Kapilaprasad, Brahmeswar Patna, Gadakana, Rasulgarh and Bharatpur into primary and secondary health care centres.

According to the MoU, the institute, through a special purpose vehicle, M/s KIMS Hospital (Bhubaneswar) Private Limited, would complete the project within 24 months. The International Finance Corporation, a World Bank Group enterprise, will be the project's transaction advisor.

Health and family welfare minister Pradip Kumar Amat, who was present at the MoU signing, said the institute had assured them of finishing the project within the stipulated deadline. Amat said: "This is a great commitment as our government runs through a proactive system and the ease of doing business in Odisha has become an inspiration for many entrepreneurs."

Once the project is over, the hospital and the health care network would add around 800 hospital beds in Bhubaneswar and cover primary, secondary and tertiary health care. The state government would partly fund the health care delivery project, estimated at Rs 425 crore. The state's Rs 51 crore share would be disbursed in phases.

"The authorities of both the civic body and the institute must work towards completing the project within the promised time, so that citizens benefit form a better, low-priced health care delivery system," said housing and urban development minister Pushpendra Singh Deo. He said the project would treat 45 per cent patients from the city's economically weaker sections.

The administration also plans to integrate the network with the current IT systems of the health and family welfare department. The institute would also set up family planning clinics at four sites and operate at least 20 sick newborn care units.

"We have dealt with many governments, but the one in Odisha is very fast. The ease of doing business here is unparalleled and could be compared to good corporate governance style of functioning. We have a timeline to complete the project in 48 months, but we will do it within 24," said the institute's vice-president B. Abhinaya.

Residents also welcomed the step to strengthen the city's health care system. "The city has some of the best hospitals. The project to establish a health care network would add more to the services," said Ganga Nagar resident Biren Mishra.