Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad inaugurates AIIMS Bhubaneswar

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the dedicated 978 bedded All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar to the people of Odisha.

Speaking on the occasion Azad said, a satellite centre of the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar will come up at Balasore before elections once the state government alloted 25 acre of land for it.

Stating that the UPA government was committed to improve health care service across the country, the health minister said another satellite centre will be established after the general elections for which the Government will have to find out a suitable location in the state.

Azad said the Centre has already approved setting up of four medical colleges in Balasore, Balangir, Koraput and Baripada in Odisha under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Sahayata Yojana (PMSSY).

Since each medical college will require about Rs 190 crore, the total budget for the purpose, about Rs 750 crore and another Rs 300 crore needs to be invested in upgradation of two existing medical colleges at Berhampur and Burla, the health minister said.

Besides, the minister said the centre has projects worth Rs 120 crore for a state-level cancer treatment centre at Cuttack and Rs 90 crore for two regional cancer treatment centres. Taking all together, the centre plans investment of Rs 1,250 crore in Odisha's health sector, besides the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.

While thanking the state Government for giving the land free of cost for the AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Azad said it would help greatly to the people from various regions with its 978 bedded capacity.

Hoping full operation of the AIIMS Bhubaneswar by end of the year, Azad said his ministry has sanctioned 4189 posts of super-specialists’ doctors, faculty,nurse and staffs for the institute.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought help of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought help of the health ministry in extending services to the poor and needy people of Odisha.

The AIIMS, Bhubaneswar has emerged as the fastest growing institute in the country as it has been operational before three-and half years of its construction works.

Since the start of academic session for the first batch of MBBS students in September 2012 with intake of 50 students, AIIMS-Bhubaneswar now has 135 beds including 10 ICU beds, 30 for casualty and six recovery beds, director Ashok Mohapatra said adding by the end of this year the hospital is expected to have about 600 beds.

"By June, 2015, we are likely to achieve the target of having a 978-bedded hospital," Dr Mahapatra said.

PTI

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