Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister stressed on the need for privately managed specialised hospitals, which should work for creating more funds for cheap medical treatment of the poor who cannot afford major surgeries.

He added that the government is making all out effort in this regard and a Rs 421-cr World Bank project is being implemented in the state and 150 hospitals being equipped latest health techniques.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Parvinder Singh, chairman, Ranbaxy and Fortis Healthcare Ltd, said that it was their dream to build an integrated healthcare delivery system in this part of the country and that this centre is the first step in this direction. He said in the first phase of the project a 92-bed hospital, medical and rehabilitation centres and staff residential accommodation will be build. In the second phase, the bed capacity will be raised to 150 and operating facilities will be added. In the last phase, the bed capacity will be increased to 375. Punjab Health Minister Manoranjan Kalia, state Finanace Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh and MP Bibi Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, from Ropar, were also present.