Imphal, October 07 2009: Asserting that the State Government is sparing no efforts to set up the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, the Health Commissioner has today stated that the Medical Council of India, during an inspection in July this year, had noted that the number of hospital beds have increased to 300 with occupancy at 70 pc..

Out of the required 55 teaching faculty, 44 have been appointed, said the Health Commissioner in a statement and added that out of the required 42 Residents, 41 have been appointed.

However the MCI did not give the Letter of Permission to set up the medical college, due to the shortfall of 20 pc in the teaching faculty.

Stating that there is an acute shortage of medical faculty through out the country, the Commissioner said that the State Government and JNIMS have been putting their best efforts to get the required faculty.

Advertisements were issued in the local newspapers, National newspapers and websites, said the statement and added that JNIMS has also sent Search Teams to contact eligible faculty.

The shortfall has been reduced since July, said the statement adding that the pre-Clinical Departments of Anatomy, Physiology and Bio-chemistry are ready.

The hostels for boys and girls are also ready.

Towards meeting the deadline, the Governing Council of JNIMS met under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister today and thoroughly reviewed the preparatory steps taken up.

To attract senior faulty such as Professors and Associate Professors, the Governing Council decided to offer free accommodation, transportation allowance, telephone and air travel allowances, said the Commissioner.

Other teaching faculty on pay scale payments will also be offered incentive allowances, it said.

Admitting that there was some delay in allocation of funds to JNIMS, the Commissioner however explained that it was because the general elections had delayed the approval of the Annual Plan, 2009-2010 .

Necessary actions have however been completed and adequate Grant-in-aid funds will be available with JNIMS to meet all their salary expenses.

On the construction work of the medical institute, the Commissioner said that construction works required form the Medical Hospital and Teaching Hospital have been taken up on a war footing since October last year.

Adequate provision for civil works have been proposed under the SPA 2009-10 and approval of the Planning Commission is expected shortly.

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