Ma Su seeks Centre’s approval for AIIMS, Ayush health centres

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian along with Health Secretary P Senthil kumar on Tuesday met the Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal for the approval of the All India Institute of Siddha Medicine in Tamil Nadu, and 100 Siddha and Ayush health centers across the State.

Plus, several requests were submitted to the Union Health Minister Mansukh L. Mandaviya, including exemption from the NEET examination for Tamil Nadu, to speed up completion of AIIMS Madurai.

"As per the instructions of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the place for the All India Institute of Siddha Medicine is identified at Madhavaram and Anna Nagar. However, as it is a policy decision, the minister said the decision for the same will be done soon," said Ma Subramanian.

"We requested 100 Siddha and Ayush Health Centers across the State, which has been granted. Also, a 50-bed hospital facility in Namakkal has been approved which will be inaugurated soon, and approval for the medical college in the district is pending," he added.

AIIMS Hospital laid a foundation stone at Thopur, Madurai on January 27, 2019. Already 50 students, who were given admission to AIIMS Madurai, are pursuing at Ramanathapuram Medical College Hospital. As the compound wall has been constructed so far, he assured that the design and tender for the building will be done at the earliest.

The State Health Department is likely to send a proposal requiring a second AIIMS building in Coimbatore. Following 11 government medical college hospitals inaugurated in February 2022, 6 more districts in Tamil Nadu - Perambalur, Thenkasi, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Kancheepuram, and Mayiladuthurai— do not have a government medical college. A requisition was made to the Union Ministry for the same.

On the exemption of NEET examination for TN, in the amendment submitted by the department, it mentioned that the Tamil Nadu government has been consistently opposing NEET for admission to Medical courses. Considering the plight of poor students in getting admission to the State government seats in medical and dental under graduate course, Tamil Nadu may be allowed to fill all professional seats including MBBS, BDS, AYUSH courses on the basis of Class 12 marks alone.

Subramanian said, "The Union Health Minister has ensured that the needful work regarding the examination will be done."

Additionally, the health department requested for the education of students returned from Ukraine, fund for the establishment of Nursing College in 30 Government Medical Colleges in Tamil Nadu and immediately release the first installment of funds for the financial year 2022-2023 under the National Health Commission, Prime Minister's Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Initiative and the Fifteenth Finance Commission.