KOCHI: In a major fillip to the public health care sector in Ernakulam district, the state government has cleared projects worth Rs 681 crore, through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), for the proposed Cochin Cancer Research Centre, Government Medical College and Ernakulam General Hospital.
The KIIFB board which met on Tuesday cleared these projects.
It is learnt the Infrastructure Kerala Limited (INKEL) would float a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the implementation of these projects. After that a tripartite agreement will have to be executed with the Health Department, INKEL and KIIFB as parties, detailing the plans for implementation of the projects.
Though the institutions established using the fund need not repay it, they should generate funds for operating the projects.
Of the Rs 681 crore cleared, the proposed Cancer Centre and Government Medical College Ernakulam will get Rs 310 crore each, while the General Hospital will get Rs 61 crore.
The amount sanctioned for cancer centre will be utilised for constructing a fully operational 300-bed cancer hospital and research institute with various departments, blood bank and rehabilitation centre for the cured patients.
The project will be implemented in two phases with a 217-bed hospital in the first phase and a 183-bed section in the second phase.
The amount cleared for Government Medical College will be used for setting up a Mother and Child Centre, super specialty block with Cathlab, dental wing and enhancement of the Radiology Department.
Though the original proposal was for Rs 355 crore, the cost was curtailed to Rs 310 crore after scrutiny by the technical and engineering wing of the KIIFB.
The authorities had submitted a proposal for the renovation of Ernakulam General Hospital at an estimated cost of Rs 76 crore. The KIIFB, after scrutiny allotted Rs 61 crore.
The fund will be used for construction of a super specialty block, cancer care block, drawing high tension (HT) lines for augmenting the power supply to the hospital and renovation of existing blocks.