PM Lays Foundation Stone For An AIIMS In Madurai; Says He’s Happy That State Has Embraced Ayushman Bharat

As part of the government’s plans to establish good quality healthcare infrastructure in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai on Sunday (27 January).

According to an official release, the new AIIMS at Madurai will provide leadership in advanced healthcare, medical education and research in the region. It will primarily benefit people residing in the backward southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Addressing a gathering, Modi said, “Laying of the foundation stone of an AIIMS at Madurai reflects our vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat..... AIIMS at Madurai will benefit the entire population of Tamil Nadu.”

Modi also inaugurated super-specialty blocks of Rajaji Medical College, Madurai, Thanjavur Medical College and Tirunelveli Medical College.

"The number of undergraduate medical seats has been increased by almost 30 per cent in the last four-and-a-half years. As many as 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres are being established to provide comprehensive primary care and preventive health services,” the Prime Minister was quoted in the Indian Express report as saying.

He also expressed satisfaction over the fact that 1,57,00,000 people from Tamil Nadu were covered under the Ayushmann Bharat scheme.

He highlighted that in just over three months, about 89,000 people had benefited under this scheme and a sum of over Rs 200 crore has been authorised for healthcare in Tamil Nadu.

“I am happy to learn that Tamil Nadu has already started 1,320 health and wellness centres, ” said the Prime Minister.