New 10-storey facility promises affordable, high-quality care under PPP model
KOLKATA: In a significant move to boost affordable healthcare, West Bengal’s first ‘budget hospital’ is slated to begin operations at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja festival. The ambitious project, backed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, aims to offer corporate-style medical services at a fraction of the cost, making quality healthcare more accessible to the public.
The 10-storey hospital, constructed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will initially open its first two floors for patients. The building, whose construction began in November 2023, is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the state, designed to replicate the success of the Woodburn Ward PPP model at SSKM, which garnered praise for both patient satisfaction and financial viability.
Modern Facilities at Lower Cost
The facility will house a total of 131 beds, including 8 VIP suites, 102 well-appointed cabins, 16 ICU beds, 5 High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds, and additional recovery units. While the exact pricing structure is yet to be announced, treatment costs are expected to be 70–80% lower than those in private corporate hospitals, significantly easing the financial burden on patients.
Expansion Plans Across the State
Following the SSKM rollout, the state government plans to expand the budget hospital model across all districts. Future locations include other major government medical colleges such as Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, RG Kar Medical College, NRS Medical College, Calcutta National Medical College, Burdwan Medical College, and North Bengal and Bankura Sammilani Medical Colleges.
These upcoming budget hospitals will offer private cabins with modern amenities like air conditioning and televisions, in addition to single, double, and four-bedded wards, ICUs, and HDUs.
Woodburn Ward Upgrade Underway
Riding on the success of the PPP model, the Woodburn Ward at SSKM is also undergoing an upgrade, with the number of private cabins being expanded from 36 to 60. This enhancement reflects the government’s continued focus on scaling up affordable, high-quality healthcare infrastructure.
