Chhattisgarh put its footprint firmly in the country’s premium healthcare map with inauguration of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Raipur by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad along with Chief Minister Raman Singh here on Thursday.

“The Chhattisgarh Government had been very prompt in providing land besides water, electricity connection and required infrastructure which contributed in smoother process of bringing up the institute in Raipur,” Azad stated in his address at the inaugural ceremony of the institute.

He said that good healthcare services are the foundation for a State’s prosperity while appreciating the efforts of AIIMS, Raipur, Director Dr Nitin Nagarkar for his ‘resolute dedication’ in sowing the seed of the country’s premier healthcare and research institution in Raipur.  

Azad further remarked: “The relaxation of norms by Medical Council of India (MCI) made it easier for medical institutions to establish themselves in all the States,” he said. later, the Union Minister while inaugurating the 160-bed Trauma Centre at the institute’s hospital said that the UPA Government at the Centre had always focused on promoting setting up of more and more hospitals and medical colleges across the country.

He also lauded the facility of e-library at AIIMS, Raipur which is not present in any other AIIMS in the country. Chief Minister Raman Singh in his address during the inaugural ceremony said that the people have received a ‘priceless souvenir’ of AIIMS in the State capital on an auspicious day like Mahashivratri, on Thursday.

Singh thanked the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for its help and encouragement in bringing up the premium healthcare institution in Raipur. “From now onwards, the people of the Chhattisgarh do not need to go to New Delhi for availing world-class health services as AIIMS has now been established in the State,” the Chief Minister said, adding, “The institute will not only benefit the people of Chhattisgarh but also those in the neighbouring States.”

Singh further remarked, “Being present as the Chief Minister of the State during the inauguration of AIIMS is a lifetime achievement for me. The dream of having AIIMS in Chhattisgarh that I had seen 11 years ago has finally been realised.”

State Health Minister Amar Agrawal in his address called the establishment of AIIMS as a milestone in the history of Chhattisgarh and recounted the contribution of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, senior BJP leader and the Union Health Minister during the NDA regime at the Centre Sushma Swaraj, MP Ramesh Bais and other leaders in bringing AIIMS to Chhattisgarh.

Also present on the occasion were Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Charan Das Mahant, Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, luv Verma, MP Bhushan lal Jangde besides other dignitaries.

It may be recalled that a total of six AIIMS-like institutes are currently being set up at Patna, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Rishikesh, Bhopal and Raipur. All of them will be fully functional by the end of 2014.

BOX:

‘Wish to go back to college days’

After visiting the library, hostel and other facilities at AIIMS campus, the doctor-turned politician Raman Singh who is heading the BJP Government in the State since December 2003, said that after viewing such an amazing infrastructure, facilities and campus of the institute he wishes to take up to college days again.