Bengaluru: Ministry of Public Health, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and BRS Ventures, UAE today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to take over two hospitals and establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing unit in Kabul, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The MoU was signed in the presence of H.E. Ashraf Ghani, the President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. For enhancement of the public healthcare infrastructure in Kabul, BRS Ventures will operate and manage Sheikh Zayed Hospital (SZ Hospital) and Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital (WAK Hospital) under the public private partnership model. The hospitals will be a part of BRS Ventures healthcare brand called ‘BR Life’. The MoU will be executed in 2 phases. Operations & Management of SZ Hospital in Phase 1 and WAK Hospital in Phase 2.

SZ Hospital is an 82-bed hospital located in the heart of Kabul. WAK Hospital is a 210-bed super specialty hospital catering to over 72,000 patients annually. BRS Ventures will be responsible for the complete refurbishment, rebranding of the hospitals. The activities will commence operations within the next following months. The overhaul of SZ Hospital is an auspicious moment for BRS Ventures marking the company’s homage to the year round centenary celebrations of Sheikh Zayed as the “Year of Zayed” in UAE.

With a mission to serve the community Dr. B R Shetty started BR Life in India.  BRS Ventures-led BR Life includes hospitals in India and the sub-continent. SUT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram was the first BR Life hospital in India that was established in 2013. Sree Narayana Hospital in Raipur, SSNMC Super Specialty Hospital Bangalore, Mother & Child Hospital in Udupi, Kalinga Hospital in Bhubaneswar and The Grande International Hospital in Nepal are the other hospitals under the BR Life umbrella.

Dr. B. R. Shetty, Founder and Chairman of BRS Ventures said, “I am thrilled that we have an opportunity to invest in Afghanistan. My motto in life has always been to serve mankind. I am deeply grateful to H.E. Ashraf Ghani, the President of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for trusting us and giving us an opportunity to improve the healthcare facilities in the country.”

H.E. Dr. Ferozuddin Feroz, Ministry of Public Health, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan said, “I am delighted to welcome BRS Ventures into Afghanistan. Dr. Shetty and his team have an excellent track record in the healthcare sector through their New Medical Centre (NMC) Hospitals, BR Life Hospitals and Neopharma –  pharmaceutical manufacturing company. This is a significant milestone in the healthcare sector in Afghanistan.”

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Bengaluru: Channapatna JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who lost the byelection to C.P. Yogeshwar of Congress, on Sunday consoled a fan who reportedly attempted to end his life and requested him not to repeat such acts.

Manjunath, fondly called Abhi, had even penned a letter before taking the dangerous step. Nikhil, who called on Manjunath at the latter’s home in Kudloor in Channapatna, expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy reassured Manjunath, expressing his support during the difficult time. He told him that he was deeply troubled to learn of this incident and emphasised that he would stand by him. Nikhil also promised to offer assistance in any way he could, including helping him secure employment opportunities in the future, as reported by the Deccan Herald.

He also reminded Manjunath of the importance of his children’s well-being, urging him to focus on their future. “Please, look at the faces of your growing children. Even I have a three-year-old son. The children are young, let us take care of their future also. I will arrange some job opportunities for you. I might not be an MLA but this is a challenge. I will get you employed,” he said.

Nikhil told media persons that he is extremely hurt more by Manjunath’s attempt to die than by his loss in the election. “At 7:30 a.m., we got a message that in Valetoopu, Manjunath had consumed poison yesterday. In Channapatna, our workers and leaders have built this party with zeal. Let the admiration be there in your hearts but if it crosses the line, your families get hurt and we get very pained by it,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.

Speaking of his byelection loss, Nikhil reiterated that the JD(S) had got its traditional votes, but that the votes of a particular community went against the party.

“Deve Gowda gave reservation to a community. We tried our last attempt to take that community into confidence. But they conveyed to us that they do not require us. In future, we will take other communities into confidence,” he remarked in a veiled reference to Muslims.

Nikhil lost the election by a margin of 25,413 votes to Congress candidate C.P. Yogeshwar.

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