GHP January 2016

ghp January 2016 | 7 India and the UK Cement a Strategic Partnership in Healthcare Backed by up to £100 million of private investment, the project is the first of a proposed 11 Indo UK Institutes of Health which will concern the development of high quality hospitals, medical colleges and nursing schools throughout India. When fully implemented, the initiative will represent a £1 billion investment into India’s healthcare system. Indeed, the UK and Indian governments have set up an implementation taskforce to ensure speedy imple- mentation and closer collaboration of these and other healthcare projects. These intend to bring the UK’s finest NHS organisations, universities and companies to India. Healthcare UK assisted Kings College Hospital and Indo UK Healthcare Pvt Ltd to bring this partnership to fruition and it will carry on supporting the development of the Indo-UK Institutes of Health. George Freeman MP, Minister for Life Sciences welcomed the news, which was given during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UK in November 2015: “It’s great news that King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has agreed to be the strategic clinical partner for the first Indo UK Institute for Health in New Chandigarh. This £100 million collaboration, a world first, is a sign of the huge global export market for the UK healthcare and life sciences sector. “I would encourage other UK companies, academic institutions and NHS organisations to work with Health- care UK to engage in the Indo UK Institutes for Health project. As one of the fastest developing economies in the world, with over 1 billion people, India is fast becoming a vast market for UK health services and technology.” Lord Kerslake, Chairman of King’s College Hospital, commented: “I am delighted that King’s College Hospital is part of this flagship project to develop greater collaboration between the UK and India in the all-important area of healthcare. “Over the years, Indian staff have made a vital contribu- tion to developing the world-class reputation we are so proud of here at King’s. “I am thrilled that we are now able to share the exper- tise we have here in London to ensure patients in India have access to the highest-quality healthcare.” Dr Ajay Rajan Gupta, CEO of Indo UK Healthcare Pvt Ltd, added: “This project is all about bringing the ‘best of British’ healthcare to India - ‘NHS in India’. “As someone who has worked within the NHS as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon for a number of years now, I have seen first-hand how lucky the UK is to have such a fantastic service. King’s College Hospital become the strategic clinical partner for the first Indo UK Institute of Health in New Chandigarh, it was announced in November. “My ambition is to provide access to this fantastic ser- vice to as many of my fellow Indians as possible through the 11 Indo-UK Institutes of Health. “I thank Prime Ministers Narender Modi and David Cameron for their support for this innovative healthcare project in India which will benefit both the NHS and India.” © Crown copyright