Kolkata, Aug 14 (IANS): In a major boost to child health care in West Bengal, the state government has joined hands with three private hospitals to provide free paediatric cardiac surgery.

Three private health care establishments have been selected to perform 3,000 free heart surgeries in children each year under the initiative named 'Shishu Saathi' or 'Friends for Children' that flags off Aug 21.

"The surgeries will be done irrespective of economic background. The hospitals earmarked are Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, B.M. Birla Heart Research Centre and Mission Hospital," state Health Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya told IANS.

"We can do 3,000 surgeries a year," said Bhattacharya.

Confirming the collaboration, Mission Hospital chairman Satyajit Bose said around 8,000 candidates have been short-listed.

"We will try to do all 8,000 if it is possible. Those children who will benefit the most will be selected for this," said Bose.

Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, B.C. Roy Memorial Hospital for Children and R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital -- all state-run -- have cutting-edge facilities for paediatric care.

Now, inclusion of the three private institutes will add to Bengal's child health care ventures, said Bhattacharya.