New AIIMS will come up near Madurai: TN CM Palaniswami
What's the story
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today said the much-anticipated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) facility will be set up at Thoppur near Madurai at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,500cr.
The 250-bed modern facility will also have 100 MBBS seats.
The Center announced the AIIMS facility in the Union Budget 2015-16 but faced some delays over the location, Palaniswami said.
Location confusion
Central government team visited five locations before zeroing-in on Thoppur
Recalling about the confusion over the location of the hospital, Palaniswami said a central team had earlier visited five locations, including those at Madurai, Erode, and Pudukottai districts, before zeroing in on Thoppur.
Assuring all support from the Tamil Nadu government in the establishment of the proposed AIIMS, he thanked PM Narendra Modi for allocating such a facility to the state.
Objective
Jayalalithaa's aim was to set up AIIMS-like-institute in TN: Palaniswami
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Palaniswami said the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was very keen that an institution of the stature of AIIMS was established and made functional in Tamil Nadu.
"It would provide quality medical education, research and also ensure high-end tertiary level healthcare in the public sector to benefit the poor and middle classes," he said.
Information
Palaniswami directed officials to provide necessary support to Central govt
Palaniswami said he has directed state Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, Principal Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan, and other senior officials to provide all necessary support to the Central government so as to facilitate early commencement of work.