The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences Bangalore Bill, 2010 declaring it an institute of national importance and according it greater autonomy.
Now on, NIMHANS will be able to confer degrees and build manpower without the intervention of the Medical Council of India.
Backed by the Opposition, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad promised to establish more such institutes across the country and increase the number of quality doctors, which was way below the required number. The number of qualified psychiatrists available in the country is only 3,800 as against the estimated requirement of 11,500.
