Sonia Gandhi inaugurates premier health institute in Shillong
POSTED March 7, 2010 - 16:50 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Rakhi on August 26, 2010 - 17:33
The health institute, a brain child of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is modeled on the lines of AIIMS, New Delhi, and the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Sonia Gandhi stated, “With the inauguration of the medical institute, an important aspect of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's vision has been fulfilled.
"The institute was conceived as a centre of excellence in healthcare which will have the best of health services facilities in eastern India."
She further declared, “Besides treatment and providing numerous health services, the institute would play an important role in research and development. The UPA government has given special attention to all-round development of northeast India.”
Establishment of NEIGRIHMS
NEIGRIHMS is an autonomous institute funded by the Central government. It is the only post-graduate medical institute in the Northeast region and the third in the country established by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry.
Although the formal inauguration of the health institute was pending, it was made functional nearly five years ago in 2002.
NEIGRIHMS operated initially as an interim facility but later functioned from the sprawling campus built on the outskirts of Shillong.
The institute is spread over 275 acres in Mawdiangdiang on the outskirts of the city. Though the initial expenditure for the project was estimated to be Rs 422.6 crore, more money was pumped in to begin MBBS, nursing courses, and other post-graduate programs.
Over Rs 550 crores have been spent so far in setting the institute up.
Well-equipped medical institute
The medical institute is fully equipped with modern technology, and 35 specialized departments are being created. It has a sophisticated cardiology department and one of the best pain clinics in the nation.
It also has well equipped neurology and urology departments. Additionally NEIGRIHMS boasts of a 30-bed Intensive Care Unit.
In the pipeline is a project of telemedicine. Moreover, the center has allotted Rs.67.5 crores for setting up a herbal institute under the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) at NEIGRIHMS.
Shortage of faculty members
Presently, the institute is facing a shortage of faculty members, which is hampering the health delivery system. Of the 367 posts available at the institute, just 148 have been filled up.
These include 39 faculty members, 68 senior resident doctors and around 70 junior resident doctors. There were only five super specialists at the institute against a requirement of 52.
Sonia Gandhi added, “The Centre will ensure that the institute gets sustained support to attract and retain the best talents.”
She stressed the need for proper research and cure of diseases like cancer, malaria and HIV/AIDS which are rampant in the Northeast.
Diseases:
