PPP can do good for education, healthcare: CM

Updated on: Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Sunday highlighted the need for private public partnership (PPP) to promote education and provide accessible healthcare to the masses.

While the government has earmarked Rs 12,500 crore for education and an additional Rs 826 crore for medical education, a lot more needs to be done to ensure that quality education is provided to all concerned, and private players have a role in this regard.

Inaugurating Srinivas Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre (SIMSRC) and Srinivas Hospital at Mukka near here, the chief minister said Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, during his recent visit to the state, made a mention of Karnataka's prowess in the field of education. The erstwhile undivided Dakshina Kannada district is well known for its contribution to the fields of banking and education, with private sector playing an important role in these areas.

Lauding the initiative taken by A Shama Rao Foundation, promoters of the college, for promising quality healthcare to the rural masses at affordable prices, Gowda said low-cost healthcare is the need of the hour. "We come across situations which only seem to reinforce the general feeling that only the affluent have access to quality healthcare," he said, adding that private medical institutions such as Srinivas too have a role to play in promoting healthcare.

Observing that Karnataka is not yet ready to embrace the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for medical graduates from 2012 as mooted by the Supreme Court, the CM said the state has decided to introduce CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) syllabus for PU exams in Science stream from the next academic year. The switch over, the CM said, is necessary to ensure that students from the state are able to compete in all-India exams.

Higher education minister V S Acharya said the beginning made by SIMSRC in introducing state-of-the-art specialties augur well for rural masses. RGUHS VC Dr Sriprakash K S said Dakshina Kannada has emerged as a hub for medical education and healthcare with focus on quality education.

Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swami of Pejavar Mutt delivered benedictions, while Foundation president A Raghavendra Rao presided over the function.

Times of India

PPP can do good for education, healthcare: CM

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