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