Jaipur: Rajasthan is considering a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to improve access to quality healthcare in underserved cities, with a phased rollout likely to be assessed based on local needs, service gaps and infrastructure priorities.The Centre has offered financial support to the state under PPP-related schemes of the department of economic affairs, ministry of finance, including the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme and the India Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IIPDF), which are aimed at making infrastructure projects financially viable.A presentation-cum-review meeting on the proposed PPP implementation in Rajasthan’s health sector was held in New Delhi Friday under Vijay Nehra, additional secretary, ministry of health and family welfare.Principal secretary, health and medical education, Gayatri Rathore, officials from the medical education department, and Dr Ajit Singh, OSD, Rajasthan Institute of Medical Sciences, attended the meeting.Central officials briefed the Rajasthan delegation on PPP models already operating in other states, available funding mechanisms, and opportunities to strengthen health infrastructure in Rajasthan through private investment and technical expertise, a senior medical education department official, said.The proposed areas for PPP participation include multi-speciality hospitals, medical colleges, radiology and pathology services, dialysis centres, cardiac care units, telemedicine platforms, medical transport systems, and maternal and child health services.Officials also cited the Union Budget 2025-26 announcement that every infrastructure-related ministry will prepare a three-year pipeline of PPP-suitable projects, signalling the Centre’s wider push for private participation in public service delivery.A medical education department official said the state govt is expected to study which PPP models can be adapted to the state’s demographic and geographic needs, especially in regions where public healthcare capacity remains limited.
