The Union Health Ministry has written to the State Government to identify about 150-200 acres of land to establish in Tamil Nadu an institution similar to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
A letter proposing AIIMS-type institutions in all States was sent out by the Centre recently, sources in the Health Department said.
Confirming the receipt of the letter, a department official said though Chennai may be the first choice to set up an institution like the AIIMS, it may be hard to find space.
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The city already has several tertiary care centres — a multi super speciality hospital in Omandurar Estate, besides super speciality hospitals such as the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital; Stanley and Kilpauk Medical College Hospitals. Its maternity hospitals and the children’s tertiary care hospital were also recently upgraded.
During the tenure of Anbumani Ramadoss as the Union Health Minister, health infrastructure in the State received a boost.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Surakshya Yojana (PMSSY) launched by the UPA Government, government hospitals in Salem and Madurai were upgraded as super specialities at a cost of Rs. 150 crore each. Then the Tiruchi Government Hospital was also upgraded in infrastructure with funds under the PMSSY.
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Last year, the government announced that the Coimbatore Medical College would be upgraded. In April, the institutions in Thanjavur and Tirunelveli were also included. Each hospital will receive Rs. 150 crore, with the State and Centre sharing it proportionately.