The Union health ministry is planning a `medical park', the first of its kind in the country, near Chennai to enable the domestic health industry to manufacture medical equipment on a large scale.

The first public medical park at a 200-acre plot at Chengalpattu, 40 km from Chennai, would be the first of many such parks to come up in the next few years, said an official from the Ministry.

Thiruvananthapuram-based public sector undertaking, Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) has been asked to prepare the feasibility report for the project and the HLL would also be a partner for this proposed equipment and vaccine park.

The health ministry has also written to the Finance and Commerce Ministries to extend subsidies to the parks to attract private investors in large scale to utilize the facilities. The project cost would be finalized soon, sources said. After the first park gets started, the centres for other parks would also be identified.
Currently, only 10 per cent of health-related equipment was produced by domestic industry and 90 per cent are being imported. Many foreign companies are also keen on investing in the manufacturing units here.

"When these parks will be set up, the domestic industry will be able to manufacture products catering to the Indian population. And there will be joint ventures with foreign firms. After meeting the demand in the country, Indian players will be in a position to export the same at cheaper costs," sources added.

The HLL, the largest condom maker in the country, will be the promotional partner for the park. The land was already identified and would be allotted to the HLL soon for the purpose.