Chairman of Padiyath HealthCare Reveals Investment Plan

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Dr. Hazeeb Rahman who happens to be the Chairman of Padiyath HealthCare, paid a visit to Sierra Leone this past weekend to express their interest on National Healthcare Infrastructure Project for the country. Padiyath HealthCare, Technology, Technique and Touch intend to create a world-class healthcare infrastructure at affordable cost.

Dr. Rahman, in a brief discussion, with the Press on his arrival at the Sea Coach terminal, Aberdeen said Padiyath HealthCare based in India are running 23 hospitals in 8 countries currently including Dubai, India and some in Africa.

He disclosed that they are planning to invest in a major way in the healthcare sector of Sierra Leone and what they are going to do will depend on the assurance and support they got from the Sierra Leone Government.

“We are trying to build good healthcare system for the population of the country. We are planning to bring in a low-cost healthcare system which is efficient for the least person and it will benefit them 100%.”

90% of Africans population is outside the reach of the organized healthcare. They are forced to go to quacks or unqualified people treating people and eventually results in loss of life or permanent damage. “Gift of health” is a healthcare programme where in the Government can in a period of 6 months bring the entire population under the purview of organized healthcare.

“By way of this project the Government fixes the healthcare cost of the family and the Government says that it’s the “Gift of Health” to the population from the national Government called “Afro health”.

He emphasized that the project provides complete healthcare including all major surgeries with few exceptions to the population at only $40 per family per month (family of 5 members 2 adults and 3 children). “This scheme includes all Radiography, Laboratory and Surgeries with a very small exception.”

Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers representing Constituency 102 Pujehun District is the focal person for Padiyath HealthCare in Sierra Leone. He said the proposed project is between the Government of Sierra Leone and the group which is a multi-national healthcare group operating in India, Dubai and Africa.

He disclosed that the presence of Padiyath HealthCare in Sierra Leone is through the invitation of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Hon. Rogers went on to say the healthcare plan will target the poor.

The Chairman of Padiyath HealthCare, Dr. Hazeeb Rahman made a PowerPoint presentation to the two Deputy Ministers of Health and other senior health officials at the Ministry and presented documents to them about their investment plan for Sierra Leone.

He inspected Connaught Hospital to get first-hand information about the hospital but not too happy about the state of the hospital and the facility.

Dr. Rahman expressed interest to take over some of the major hospitals in the country in collaboration with the Health Ministry.

“I am very much impressed when I go through the documents. This is the kind of credible investor we are looking for. Now I am doing a national service not only for my Constituency. I hope the government will welcome it, considering the passion President Bio has for it citizens.”

Hon. Rogers disclosed that Padiyath HealthCare has a vision to construct modern hospitals in Sierra Leone, bring in 40 specialist doctors that will be embarking on surgical operations which cost thousands of Dollars. “They want to discourage people that are spending huge amounts of money to do operations out of the country.”

He also disclosed that $40 million has been set aside for the project in Sierra Leone. They have to refurbish the hospitals they will take over, come with specialists Doctors, Pharmacia among others.

The two Deputy Ministers of Health of Sierra Leone were very much impressed and suggested that Dr. Rahman should develop a concept document and MoU which they will look at.