Imphal, May 14: Announcing a number of measures for better health care for the people in the North East region, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has assured development of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) at Lamphelpat here as one of the premier health care institutes of the country.

Speaking at the inaugural function of a newly built Paying Ward of RIMS today, Ramadoss who is currently at Imphal as part of his North East tour to review the progress of the National Rural Health Mission and other developmental activities being taken up at RIMS, said that 60 percent of the issues related to infratructural requirements and developmental activities at RIMS would be taken care of within the current month, 20 pc in the next 6 months and the remaining over the next two years.

For all these activities, a total amount of Rs 129 crores would be sanctioned, he disclosed, adding that necessary measures for setting up a well-equipped Cancer Hospital and facilities for Superspeciality would be made available to the people at RIMS within the next one year.

Unlike other institutes, RIMS has adequate land of its own, specialists, faculty and manpower, the Union Minister noted.

Along with construction of new buildings to replace the existing old ones, a sum of Rs 15 crores would also sanctioned for arranging provision for water at RIMS and the number of MBBS seats would be increased from 100 to 150, the Minister announced, and added that steps would be taken up for providing free medical treatments to people of BPL families at RIMS within the next 2/3 weeks.

It is the policy of the Government to ensure that none of the patients in the North East region go out outside the region seeking medical treatment as a consequent of lack of adequate medical facilities in the region, the Union Minister said.

The Union Minister observed that although the most efficient nurses in the country are from the North East region, the number of medical and nursing institutes in the region is limited.

So, the Government would set up one nursing institute in each of the districts of the North Eastern States in the coming years, the Minister promised.

Expressing concerned over high consumption rate of tobacco products and alcohol among the people of the North east in comparison with the total population of the country, the Minister pointed out that this being the main cause, there is the problem of Cancer in the whole of North East.

'We have to face this challenge', the Union Health Minister said.

As part of the function, the Union Minister also laid the foundation stones of a new OPD block, Dental College and Nursing College.

Prior to this, the Union Minister interacted with the Faculty members, officers and staff of RIMS to listen to their complaint and understand their problems.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Health Minister Ph Parijat and officials of the Union Ministry accompanied the Union Minister during his visit to RIMS.

Later interacting with mediapersons, the Union Minister, in response to a question on what steps would be taken up in connection with the alleged UG interference in the functioning of RIMS, said that the State Government is there to look after it.

Spread over an area of 300 acres of land, RIMS started functioning in 1972.With an intake capacity of 100 undergraduate and 73 postgraduate degree and diploma students, the institute also has a 1000 plus-bedded well-equipped hospital.

The institute has so far produced more than 2000 doctors and 500 specialists for the North east region.

On an average, the institute and its hospital provide services to more that 2.5 lakhs outdoor patients and admit over 30,000 patients in a year.

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