Canara Bank has lent support to Biocon Foundation and OTTET (Orissa Trust of Technical Education) for a unique public private partnership (PPP) with the Odisha government to deliver a novel e- healthcare programme for the underprivileged and rural communities in the state. An MoU was signed between Biocon Foundation, Canara Bank and OTTET.
OTTET has been actively engaged in an e-Health programme with the Government of Odisha through PPP to provide access to quality healthcare for 51,000 villages in Odisha. Biocon Foundation has joined hands with OTTET to augment and implement a unique mega-ICT based e-Health project in the state. The partners through this collaboration will strive to deliver evidence-based health care to effectively deal with primary health and chronic conditions in communities that have poor access to quality healthcare.
Under this PPP, Biocon Foundation & OTTET will set up an electronic diagnostic facility, an e-Health Centre, managed by local young entrepreneurs, at all the Primary Health Centres (PHC) of the Odisha government. The entrepreneurs will be provided financial assistance by Canara Bank and will be trained by Biocon Foundation and OTTET to support the medical officer at the PHC for various healthcare and diagnostic services.
Commenting on this unique PPP model, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon said, “We are pleased to receive support from Canara Bank for enabling our partnership with OTTET to realise the objectives of delivering e-healthcare to the people of Odisha. We aim to strengthen the present public healthcare delivery system in Odisha, by providing solutions around primary and secondary healthcare with effective use of technology. Additionally this unique social entrepreneurship model will result in the creation of real jobs and development of semi-skilled talent in the rural areas. This demonstrates our commitment towards inclusive development by empowering rural communities.”
KN Bhagat, Managing Trustee, OTTET said, “We are committed to creating parity for all through the unity of technology and social entrepreneurship that will deliver healthcare for all and services for all. We believe this PPP model will achieve all-round socio-economic and national development. The project aims to provide rapid diagnosis, reduce out of pocket expenses and drastically, cut down hospitalisation whilst ensuring transparency and accountability for every single patient.”
RK Dubey, Chairman, Canara Bank said, “Canara Bank has always been at the forefront in delivering financial services to underserved communities. The bank’s support to this Public Private Partnership demonstrates the bank’s commitment to lifting communities out of poverty and poor health.”
EP News Bureau – Mumbai