Central health board advises four new AIIMS

The channelising commission on health for 12th Five Year Plan has suggested the Union government to make four new AIIMS like institutions (ALIs) across and above the eight already sanctioned below the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

Testimonials of the 40-member committee passed on to the government recently, a written matter of which is accessible with TOI, suggested the authorities should create the four AIIMS clones, keeping in mind connectivity with state medical colleges and district infirmaries, also availability of suitable infrastructure.

Notably, the Union government has already originated process to begin admissions in six ALIs in Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Raipur, Bhopal, Jodhpur and Rishikesh. Besides, the authorities has too sanctioned arranging of two such institutions, one each in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. If the government admits testimonials of the committee, led by Dr Syeda Hameed, total number of ALIs in the country will arise to 12, keeping out the parent institution in New Delhi.

The board as well advised the authorities to make a common central cell of medical teachers for AIIMS, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Jawaharlal Institute of PG Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puduchery, and in regional and state medical colleges.

It asked the government to bring about 30 Modern medical colleges with public funding in those states, which are falling behind behind in medical aid. Such a footmark will increase undergrad medical seats from 41,569 to 63,000 and postgraduate seats from 20,868 to 31,000.

The board also suggested that strengthening 80 medical colleges during the 2012-2017 plan period. Till 2011, the government has supported 26 medical colleges under the PMSSY besides offering limited grants to 46 state medical colleges. The triple objective of strengthening the medical colleges should be to increasing the UG and PG courses by 20,000 and 10,000 respectively, provide super-specialty service in the medical colleges and set up degree programme for nursing and para-medical staff, the panel told the government. It advocated establishment of centres of excellence for nursing and para-medicine in every state and also start paramedical education courses in 149 government medical colleges.

Dr Almas Ali, a member of the committee, said all the recommendations were made keeping in mind the goal of universal health care for people. “Efforts should be made to decentralize the approach to healthcare,” Dr Ali said.