Public sector has an extremely important role in providing health services to common people – Ghulam Nabi Azad

INVC,,

Delhi,,

Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad laid foundation stone of the “Convergence Centre” at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi today which commences expansion work of infrastructure in the Institute. The Convergence Centre will house the knowledge centre meant for creating data base for various research activities including clinical experiences at the AIIMS and also the additional facilities for the departments of Anatomy, Pathology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Microbiology. The new building will have state of the art facility and once it is built, both basic sciences and clinical departments will have a common facility of doing technology driven research in the Institute and it will serve as a knowledge hub.

The total construction cost of the Centre is Rs. 50.85 crores. It will have a covered area of 18,618 square metre in nine floors and two basements. The Centre is a part of the Moily Committee’s recommendations for augmentation of infrastructure at AIIMS for which the Central Government has allocated Rs. 750 crores.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Azad said that public sector has an extremely important role in providing health services to common people. He appreciated the commitment and professionalism of the doctors at AIIMS and emphasised on the need for timely completing the construction of the new building. The Minister said the Government would support proposals of the Institute for setting up advanced, state of art and futuristic facilities at the second campus in Jhajjar in Haryana where the Government of Haryana has given 300 acres of land.

Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Shri K. Chandramouli said that converging laboratory facilities at one place will help in quality research. Director, AIIMS Dr. R.C. Deka informed that the work on the underground parking facility at Masjid Moth and underground connectivity to JPNA Trauma Centre would commence shortly. He added that the Institute is focusing its efforts on getting approval for the new hostel building and new OPD Block to decongest the existing facilities in the Institute.