The Medica Group of Hospitals based in Calcutta has announced an investment of Rs 200 crore for the expansion of its two hospitals in and around Siliguri.

Sources in the group said their plan was to enhance healthcare accessibility and deliver sophisticated medical services while doubling its capacity in north Bengal.

In Siliguri, the group runs Medica North Bengal Clinic in Siliguri and a Medica Cancer Hospital in Rangapani, on the outskirts of the city.

“We will be investing around Rs 200 crore for the expansion of our existing hospitals. While Rs 150 crore will be spent at the clinic, another Rs 50 crore will be invested at the cancer hospital. As a part of the expansion, we will also install advanced machinery and introduce new technologies in both the healthcare facilities,” said Ayanabh Deb Gupta, the joint managing director of Medica Group

According to him, there are around 2,000 beds at all hospitals of Medica Group. In Siliguri, the group wants to add 200 more beds to Medica North Bengal Clinic.

“There will be all super-speciality departments like cardiology, cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and neurology. Medica will also introduce its specialised organ transplant at this campus, along with the Robotic surgery programme,” he said.

Deb Gupta said it would take around 18 months to ready the infrastructure.

“The work would be conducted in phases. We also have a plan to collaborate with the state government and open an electronic intensive care unit (EICU) in every district of north Bengal,” he said.

For each EICU, around Rs five lakh will be invested. These units will provide support and care remotely.

“Such facilities can be very helpful when a person in a rural area needs immediate advance medical assistance,” said a source.

At the cancer hospital, there will be a new building, with 50 new beds. As of now, the hospital provides 150 radiations per day. Also, 600 to 700 chemotherapies and 50 specialised cancer surgeries are carried out in a month.

“Our aim is to offer top-notch cancer treatment to the people of eastern India so that they don’t need to go elsewhere. In the coming days, we will bring in more specialist doctors to provide advanced healthcare to the residents here,” said Deb Gupta.