Thakur, Nadda perform bhoomi pujan of AIIMS

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 21

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda today performed Bhoomi Pujan of AIIMS at Kothipura in Bilaspur district.

Speaking on the occasion, Jai Ram Thakur said that the AIIMS would prove a boon for the people of the state, as they would have access to the specialised healthcare facilities at their doorsteps.

He said that Rs 1,351-crore AIIMS would be completed within a period of two years and would have bed capacity of 750. Out of these, 300 beds would be for super specialty. He said there would be 100 MBBS seats and 60 nursing seats in the institute.

“Due to unnecessary delay in transferring land for this institution by the pervious state government, people of the state were deprived of specialised health services”, he said and added that the present state government had not only ensured transfer of land immediately, but also provided all possible help by way of providing additional land of 48 hectare so that this premier institute could take off at the earliest.

The Union Health Minister said that AIIMS was being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna. It would serve the dual purpose of providing super specialty healthcare to the people, besides creating a pool of doctors and other health workers in the state.

He said that the institute would also have Affordable Medicine and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlets and Jan Aushadhi Kendra where medicine would be provided at highly discounted rates to the poor and needy.

The project would be executed by the NBCC Ltd and would have 15 operation theatres and 20 specialty and super specialty departments. In addition, it would also have an AYUSH Department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in traditional system of medicine, he added.

Nadda said that 14 AIIMS were sanctioned for different states by the Union Government and Himachal Pradesh was fortunate to get one premier institution. Both the leaders also planted saplings in the premises of the proposed site on the occasion.

State Health and Family Welfare Minister Vipin Singh Parmar said the state had achieved new heights in development since the present state government led by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur took over the reins of the state. He said that 300 doctors had been appointed in the state during the last one year to ensure that people of the state does not suffer.

Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur said that although this project was sanctioned way back in 2014, it could take off only in 2019 as the previous state government did not even provide adequate land for this institution. He said that apart from providing better healthcare facilities to the people of the state, the institute would also provide ample opportunities of employment and self employment to the youth of the region.

To have 750 beds

• AIIMS would have bed capacity of 750. Out of these, 300 beds would be for super specialty. 
• There would be 100 MBBS seats and 60 nursing seats in the institute.
• The project would be executed by the NBCC Ltd and would have 15 operation theatres and 20 specialty and super specialty departments. 
• In addition, it would also have an AYUSH Department with 30 beds for providing treatment facilities in traditional system of medicine.