IT News
Imphal, Oct 29:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced healthcare and infrastructure projects worth Rs 12,850 crore, extending Ayushman Bharat insurance benefits to senior citizens aged 70 and above, with Manipur among the states set to benefit from multiple initiatives.
In an effort to boost healthcare accessibility, Modi launched innovative drone services aimed at delivering medical supplies to remote healthcare institutions, including the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, Manipur. This initiative is expected to transform healthcare delivery, particularly in regions where access to essential services is challenging.
The announcement, marking the ninth Ayurveda Day and the birth anniversary of Dhanvantari, saw Modi inaugurate the second phase of India’s premier All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. This expansion includes a Panchakarma hospital, an Ayurvedic pharmacy for drug manufacturing, a sports medicine unit, and a 500-seat auditorium to advance traditional medicine research and practice.
Further extending the scope of Ayushman Bharat, Modi unveiled a U-WIN portal to streamline vaccinations for pregnant women and infants, ensuring timely administration of vaccines against 12 preventable diseases. He also launched a central database for allied healthcare professionals, enhancing coordination across India’s health sector.
For Manipur, a new critical care block is planned under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, providing advanced intensive care capabilities to better serve the state’s population. This development is part of 21 new critical care blocks being established across five states, including Manipur, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Alongside these, Modi laid the foundation for five nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh and inaugurated three new medical colleges, while expanding facilities at AIIMS institutions, including AIIMS Guwahati, AIIMS Patna, and AIIMS Bilaspur.
In a move supporting India’s Make in India initiative, the Prime Minister also inaugurated five Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) projects across Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh to manufacture critical medical devices and bulk drugs domestically.
Additionally, new ESIC hospitals and central research institutes for yoga and naturopathy are being set up, expanding India’s healthcare reach to benefit millions. With these initiatives, Manipur stands among the direct beneficiaries, aligning with the government’s efforts to build resilient healthcare systems across the country.