Bathinda to have AIIMS

Girja Shankar Kaura

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 27

The Union Cabinet today approved an AIIMS at Bathinda under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The decision comes ahead of the Assembly elections in the state slated next year.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences will comprise a hospital with 750 beds in various wards, including emergency/trauma, AYUSH, private 

and ICU specialty and super-specialty.

It will also have administrative and AYUSH blocks, besides auditorium, night shelter, hostels and residential facilities.

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The project, to be completed within 48 months from the date of Centre’s approval, is likely to cost Rs 925 crore. The cost estimate does not include recurring costs (wages, and operation and maintenance expenses).

The recurring expenditure will be met by the facility from its annual budget through grant-in-aid from the Plan Budget head of the PMSSY of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The facility will provide super-specialty healthcare to the population while creating a large pool of doctors and other health workers in the region.

The institute employees can be utilised for primary and secondary-level institutions/facilities being created under the National Health Mission (NHM).

The institute will also conduct research on prevalent regional diseases and other health issues, and provide for better control and cure of such diseases.