The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to set up two AIIMS-Like institutions in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, in the second phase of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

Each institution will have a 960 bedded hospital (500 beds for the medial college hospital; 300 beds for speciality/super speciality; 100 beds for ICU/accident trauma; 30 beds for physical medicine and rehabilitation and 30 beds for Ayush) intended to provide healthcare facilities in 39 speciality/super speciality disciplines. Medical College will have 100 UG in-take besides facilities for imparting PG/doctoral courses in various disciplines, largely based on Medical Council of India (MCI) norms and also nursing college conforming to Nursing Council norms. Estimated cost of each AIIMS- like institution is Rs 823 crore, official sources disclosed.

The Cabinet has also approved to upgrade following five existing Government medical college institutions, in the second phase of PMSSY.

Government Medical College, Amritsar (Punjab), Government Medical College, Tanda (Himachal Pradesh), Government Medical College, Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Government Medical College, Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College of Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh (UP). Proposal for upgrading a medical college in Haryana has also been approved "in principle" subject to the State Government agreeing to carry out its obligations.

Upgradation of each medical college institution will be at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore, out of which Central Government will contribute Rs. 125 crore and a minimum amount of Rs. 25 crore will be borne by the respective State Governments. In respect of Aligarh Muslim University, Rs 25 crore will be provided by Ministry of Human Resource Development.

According to the original plan under the PMSSY, six AIIMS like institutes have been approved with the objective of correcting regional imbalance in the availability of affordable and reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country. During the current Eleventh Plan, the government had earmarked Rs 3955 crore for the purpose.

According to the health department, Rs 60.00 crore has been spent till date on civil construction work and payment of consultancy fees. The detailed project reports for all the six sites were being finalised and the construction would start in a few months time, sources said.