The NITI Aayog on October 17 launched the model guidelines and agreement for public-private partnership (PPP) for prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases in the tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

The Guidelines and Model Concessionaire Agreement or MCA have been designed to supplement prevention and treatment of diseases related to cardiac sciences, oncology, and pulmonary sciences at district hospitals in these cities. "The guidelines come in the backdrop of the fact that the contribution of non-communicable diseases (NCD) to the overall disease burden in the country has increased over the years. 

"In the past, many district hospitals in the country have focused mainly on communicable diseases and reproductive and child health. As a result of which the capacity for handling NCD cases has not been adequately developed," the government think-tank said in a statement. The documents have been developed by NITI Aayog in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, state governments and representatives from the health care industry, it said. 

The scope of services will include chemotherapy, growth inhibitors and hormone therapy for cancers; emergency treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma and bronchoscopy and other acute syndromes in pulmonology; and angiography/angioplasty in the field of cardiology. According to the agreement, the private partners are to invest in "upgrading/building and equipping the facility" and will be "responsible for operational management and service delivery", while the government is to provide physical space and other infrastructure and support facilities and hospital amenities.