11 health institutes to be set up in India under £1 bn partnership with UK

The King’s College Hospital in London has become the strategic clinical partner for the first Indo-UK Institute of Health in New Chandigarh, official sources said here on Tuesday.

The project is supported by nearly £100 million of private investment, and is the first of a proposed 11 Indo-UK Institutes of Health which will see high quality hospitals, nursing schools and medical colleges developed across India.

The sources added that when fully implemented, the initiative will amount to a £1 billion investment into India’s healthcare system.

The UK and Indian governments have set up an implementation taskforce to ensure closer collaboration and speedy implementation of these and other healthcare projects. These aim to bring the UK’s finest universities, companies and NHS organisations to India.

George Freeman, Minister for Life Sciences, said: “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 Healthcare UK to engage in the Indo UK Institutes for Health project”.

Lord Kerslake, chairman of King’s College Hospital, said: “Over the years, Indian staff have made a vital contribution 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 expertise we have here in London to ensure patients in India have access to the highest-quality healthcare”.