With an initial investment of 200 million Dollar, an Indian-American doctor couple has teamed up with a Florida University to bring world-class medical education to India and potentially wants to transform healthcare in the country.

Zambia-born India-educated cardiologist Kiran Patel and his India-born paediatrician wife Pallavi Patel has acquired 50 hectares of land near Bharuch, Gujarat to set up a medical college hospital that would collaborate with the US University, as a part of their grand design. Kiran Patel is planning to visit India in October to sell his idea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In the meantime, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) which is located in the picturesque Fort Lauderdale, near Miami, has opened a new regional campus in Clearwater, near Tampa, on Saturday which was built from scratch in only 17 months. Kiran Patel told IANS in an interview that Nova will expand their operations to India once the Gujarat hospital is ready within three years.

In due course, the Patel’s are hoping to set up three medical colleges in India to be located in rural areas with students who would be trained in rural areas. Two out of these medical colleges will offer Indian degrees and the third college a US degree.

Kiran Patel also said that approvals are required for the use of acquired agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes followed by a necessary approval from the Medical Council of India to start a medical college.

When asked if new changes in law to improve access to quality and affordable medical education in India would be helpful for his plans, he replied saying that "only time will tell".