Centre to set up six AIIMSs in under-developed states

PANAJI: The Centre is planning to set up six institutes similar to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in different parts of the country, Union Minister for Health Ambumani Ramadoss has said.

"These institutes, each costing Rs 350 crores, are planned to be set up in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttaranchal and Chhatisgarh," Ramadoss said on Friday evening.

"These AIIMSs would be premier institutes in the state, guiding others.... Delhi's AIIMS authorities have already started working towards the projects", Ramadoss said addressing the inaugural session of international conference on "Planning and Designing of Healthcare facilities'.

Stressing on the need to improve India's rural healthcare system, he said, "We need to infuse more quality in our rural healthcare system".

The government will train 2.5 lakh village volunteers in the months to come under the National Rural Health Mission, he said.

"Various programmes ranging from nutrition, family planning, sanitation, drinking water and health facilities will be taken up under this mission", he said.

The Union government is also planning to set up bodies at state and district level to register hospitals, he added.

Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Justice A S Anand were also present on the occasion.