Health minister seeks NITI Aayog's support for setting up AIIMS

Agartala: Tripura Health Minister Sudip Roybarman urged NITI Aayog to facilitate the initiative of the state government to convert Tripura Medical College (TMC) into an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) like healthcare institution under the 'health for all' vision of the central government.

Addressing the Chintan Shibir (brainstorming session) of NITI Aayog concluded here last evening Roybarman stated that due to financial constraints, it is very difficult for the state to set up a new facility for AIIMS in Tripura though it is extremely important for Tripura now.

The government has given the proposal to the Union ministry of health to convert the existing infrastructure to an AIIMS and Tripura Medical College would be ideal in such case, he said while explaining the initiative for the comprehensive roadmap for the development of Tripura on health and nutrition.

"It would be easier for the government and beneficial for the people of the state if NITI Aayog pushes our proposal to set up AIIMS with all necessary support, considering the vision of BJP IPFT government to make Tripura a model state in the next three years," Roybarman pointed out.

He also sought action from NITI Aayog to set up a medical college in Autonomous District Council (ADC) area of Tripura to cater best health education and health services to indigenous people of the state.

In order to promote the existing modern healthcare facilities of Tripura, Roy Barman appealed to the NITI Aayog to set up a VISA centre in Comilla area of Bangladesh to enable people of the neighbouring country visit Tripura easily. Highlighting on infrastructural development for Ayurveda and Homeo treatments, Roy Barman said that soon Tripura would have separate directorate on AYUSH.

Expressing his concern over the modern health infrastructure, Roy Barman said that a large number of people prefer to get treatment at hospitals outside Tripura and state had incurred a loss of Rs 11.39 crores as reimbursement of the medical bill in the year 2017-18.

The state has also spent Rs 2.97 crore under Tripura Health Assurance Scheme for Poor (THASP) for treatment of certain medical conditions outside the state hospitals in the same financial year, he said, adding, "To stop these things we need super-speciality treatment facilities in state's main hospitals."