With the intention to upgrade the health care facilities in the country, the Indian government, for the second phase of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, has approved the proposal to set up two AIIMS-like institutions in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. With this, the total number of AIIMS-like institutes will go up to eight in the country.

It is estimated that the cost of each such institution would be Rs 823 crore.

While commenting on this, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said, “The proposed institution in West Bengal will come up at Raiganj in North Dinajpur district. The site for the AIIMS-like college and hospital in Uttar Pradesh has not yet been identified.”

It may be recalled that Union Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi represents the Raiganj seat in the Lok Sabha.

Each of these two institutions would be 960-bedded and are aimed to give healthcare facilities in 39 speciality or super-speciality disciplines. These institutes are scheduled to be completed by 2010-2011.

Apart from this, the Cabinet has also decided to upgrade five government medical colleges in five States to the AIIMS level.  These five institutions are: the Government Medical College, Amritsar, Government Medical College, Tanda in HP, Government Medical College, Madurai, Government Medical College, Nagpur, and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of Aligarh Muslim University.

Each of these medical colleges would be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore, out of which the union government would contribute Rs 125 crore, while the rest of the amount would be borne by the respective state governments. However, in case of Aligarh Muslim University, the HRD Ministry will provide Rs 25 crore.