Govt upgrading medical institutions in North-East

Government today said it is in the process of upgrading several medical institutions in the North-East to ensure that people from the region do not need to venture out to other parts of the country for treatment.     

"The North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) has been set up in Shillong on the lines of AIIMS with the objective of providing advanced specialised healthcare to the people of the region," Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said.     

He was replying to supplementaries in Rajya Sabha on whether the Government is planning to include the North-East in its mission of setting up AIIMS-like institutions.     

The Minister said an amount of Rs 1,166.38 cr has been allocated for the institute in the 11th Plan.     

There are plans for a 500-bed referral hospital with 35 teaching departments at PG level in various specialities and super-specialities at NEIGHRIHMS, the Minister said.     

Ramadoss added that a 50-seat nursing college and undergraduate MBBS college has already started functioning from NEIGHRIHMS.

"During the year 2008-09, Rs 59 cr has been allocated, of which an amount of Rs 15 cr has been released. A new regional centre with a 100-bed cancer hospital is also planned at the institute," he told the House.