BANGALORE: The Union Ministry on Health and Family Welfare plans to set up four branches of NIMHANS, said Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday.
The budget allocation for these institutes has been planned in the 12th fiveyear plan. Speaking after the inauguration of Dr M V Govindaswamy Centre and Cognitive Neurosciences Centre with advanced brain imaging facility at NIMHANS, Azad said some backward areas of the country were deprived of good medical care.
"After discussion on budget requirement with the institute director, the ministry is planning to establish four NIMHANS-like centres in the central, eastern, northern and western parts of the country," he said. The parent branch for these institutions will remain Bangalore's NIMHANS, he added.
'Focus on research work'
Azad also called upon NIMHANS to focus on more research work. Citing the example of H1N1 pandemic in the country, he said: "Last year, there was no vaccine for H1N1, testing kits, diagnostic kits and each of this was imported. Now with our own domestic vaccines and kits, which are also more effective, we are able to save money."
Relaxing retirement age
Speaking at the 15th convocation at NIMHANS, Azad said regulations have been amended to allow the medical faculty to be employed up to the age of 70 years.
In some states like Kerala, the retirement age was 55 years and was later extended to 65 years. With the amendment, the retirement age will be 70 years.