Union Cabinet gives approval for 2 AIIMS in J&K, 1 in Gujarat

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for a proposal for establishing three new AIIMS at Vijaynagar, Samba, in Jammu at a cost of Rs 1,661 crore; Awantipura, Pulwama, in Kashmir, at a cost of Rs 1,828 crore and Rajkot, Gujarat, at a cost of Rs 1,195 Crore.

Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister for his visionary leadership and constant support, J P Nadda, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, said that the approval follows the Prime Minister’s vision and upholds the spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.

“Two new AIIMS, one each for Jammu Region and Kashmir Region in the State of Jammu & Kashmir was announced by the the Prime Minister under the Prime Minister’s Development Package, and AIIMS in Gujarat was announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech,” Nadda added.

Nadda said that setting up of new AIIMS would not only transform health education and training but will also address the shortfall of health care professionals in the region. The establishment of new AIIMS will serve the dual purpose of providing super specialty health care to the population closer to their homes and also create a large pool of doctors and other health workers that can be available for primary and secondary level institutions / facilities being created under National Health Mission (NHM). Construction of new AIIMS is fully funded by the Central Government, Nadda elaborated.

Terming it historic, the Union Health Minister further said that setting up new AIIMS in the states will lead to employment generation for nearly 3,000 people in various faculty & non faculty posts in each of the AIIMS. Indirect employment generation will take place due to facilities and services like shopping centre, canteens, etc. coming in the vicinity of new AIIMS. The construction activity involved for creation of the physical infrastructure for the various new AIIMS is also expected to generate substantial employment in the construction phasel, Nadda stated.

Nadda stated that each new AIIMS will add 100 UG (MBBS) seats and 60 BSc (Nursing) seats, and the new AIIMS will have 15-20 Super Specialty Departments. “Each new AIIMS will add around 750 hospital beds. As per data of current functional AIIMS, it is expected that each new AIIMS would cater to around 1,500 OPD patients per day and around 1,000 IPD patients per month,” he said, according to a PIB release.