Cabinet nod for Sankara Eye Hospital in Patna

Patna: The Bihar Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has approved the construction of a state-of-the-art super speciality eye hospital in the Kankarbagh area of Patna by the Coimbatore-based Sankara Eye Foundation India (SEFI).

According to the PTI report, the medical establishment will be constructed by Coimbatore-based Sankara Eye Foundation India.

A decision to this effect was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Kumar here on Tuesday.

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Speaking to reporters after the meeting, S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat), said, "The cabinet sanctioned Rs 48 crore for payment to the state housing board for transferring 1.6 acres of land to the Coimbatore-based firm on a lease of 99 years for construction of the hospital, which will become functional in 18 months."

"In the meantime, the Coimbatore-based firm will also work for capacity building of Rajendra Nagar Eye Hospital in Patna located near the site approved for the proposed eye hospital of Sankara Eye Foundation India. The entire area will be developed as the modern medical hub in the state," Siddharth said, news agency PTI reported.

The cabinet also approved funds for the construction and development of two new tourist spots in the Saharsa and Kaimur districts.

"While around Rs 98.65 crore was approved for the development of tourist infrastructure around Matsyagandha Lake in Saharsa, the cabinet approved Rs 49.73 crore for the development of the Karamchat tourism and adventure hub in Kaimur district," he added.

As per a media report in the TOI, Once operational, the SEFI's hospital will provide free eye treatment to patients from economically weaker sections earning up to Rs 2.5 lakh annually. "The fees charged on those from the income bracket higher than that will be relaxed and will also be within affordable limits," Siddharth said. He added, "The SEFI superspecialty eye hospital at Patna will be of great help to the people of the state. PM Narendra Modi had recently opened one such hospital of SEFI at Varanasi."

Siddharth highlighted the strategic location of SEFI's hospital near Jay Prabha Medanta Hospital and the govt's superspecialty eye hospital at Rajendra Nagar. "Together, the three will constitute a medical and health hub in the state," Siddharth said, adding that SEFI will contribute to elevating the Rajendra Nagar hospital to world-class standards.

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