Second AIIMS in Odisha proposed

Bhubaneswar:  Odisha Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy has shot off a letter to the Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) submitting a proposal for establishment of a second AIIMS in the state.

The Chief Secretary urged MoHFW Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to consider the proposal for setting up of second AIIMS in Sundargarh district at the earliest.

Highlighting that a second branch of the premier hospital has been established in Bihar and similar proposal is under consideration in another state, Tripathy said a second AIIMS may be considered for western Odisha in view of the healthcare requirements in the state.

“There is already available infrastructure for college and hospital in Sundargarh. As a CSR initiative, an MoU has been signed between Odisha Government and NTPC to establish a medical colllege and hospital. Construction of the project has been completed and equipment procurement process is underway. The hospital is designed for 500 beds and the college will be adequate enough to have 100 strength in MBBS,”  Tripathy mentioned adding that the available infrastructure can be utilized for setting up of AIIMS within a short period of time.

It will cater to a large tribal population in the area and help provide quality tertiary care in the backward area of western Odisha. The location is easily accessible through road, railway and air (Jharsuguda airport), the senior official said in the  letter.