On Friday, the Cabinet gave its nod to the revised cost estimates (RCE) for setting up of six new institutions. These will be set up across India and would be done on the same pattern like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The approved financial plan also features a renovation plan comprising of 13 existing Government Medical Colleges under The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) -Phase I. The total outlay will be Rs. 9307.62 crore.

The PMSSY aims at providing reliable healthcare services and keeps a constant vigil by updating the facilities of medical education in the nation.

There are plans of upgrading the existing 13 government medical colleges. This is being done because the need has been felt to start many new AIIMS-like institutions.

The Phase-I of PMSSY is targeting 19 locations across the nation. The institutions will be set up at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh.

This is important since medical facilities have not reached everyone in the country. Also the need for proper R&D in the field of medical science has been felt, which is not happening.