Hyderabad based Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, would be upgraded and elevated to the level of AIIMS, Delhi at a cost of Rs.150 crores according to Union Health Minister, Sushma Swaraj. She said that the work will be undertaken under ‘Pradhan Manthri Swashya Suraksha Yojana’ and the required funds would be sanctioned soon.

Speaking at a function organized by NIMS for laying the foundation stone for a trauma centre on Monday, she asked the state government to provide land free of cost and promised to develop the hospital to international standards. The central government would meet the cost of construction and equipments.

She said that that the NIMS project is the first among the six upgradation schemes that are to be implemented in six states. The upgradation of hospitals was felt necessary as tertiary healthcare in many private hospitals was beyond the reach of common man. Hence, the government decided to create six hospitals on par with AIIMS.

Caretaker chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu promised to give the land needed for expansion. He offered Sushma Swaraj the post of honorary chairperson of the governing council.

Kakarla Subba Rao, director, NIMS asked the centre to constitute a Medical Grants Commission and National Accreditation and Assessment Committee. He suggested a policy of ‘health for all and insurance for all’.

Sushma Swaraj signed the plaque to mark the foundation stone to trauma centre, while Naidu signed the plaque for a mother and child care centre to be set up at NIMS.

Union Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Bandaru Dattatreya, minister for Health Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, and chairman of Nizam’s Charitable Trust Prince Muggakam Jah Bahadur also were present at the occasion.