India
Chidambaram promises specialised health centres soon
By IANS
Mar 11, 2006, 20:36

Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram Friday assured parliament that despite a delay in setting up planned premier healthcare institutions, the project was very much on the cards.

The proposal to set up six institutions like Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for specialised healthcare was announced over three years ago by the National Democratic Alliance government.

The plan was later supported by the present government but has been lagging behind in implementation.

"There has been some delay due to many reasons," admitted Chidambaram, replying to a debate on the finance bill in Lok Sabha.

"A final decision will be taken in the next few days. Hopefully, the work will start by end of this fiscal year (March 31)," he added.

The government is planning to set up the AIIMS-like institutes in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttranchhal and Chattisgarh.

An upgrade of facilities at medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal is also in the offing.

The upgrade and specialised care will provide better facility closer home and ease pressure on the capital's premier research institute and lessen the financial burden of travelling.

During 2005-06, the state governments were provided Rs.2.7 million to upgrade medical facilities, said Chidambaram.

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