Varanasi, 27.08.2023: Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandviya assured all possible support to upgrade health facilities & infrastructure for the Institute of Medical Sciences in Banaras Hindu University.
The minister was chairing a high level meeting at the university’s Laxman Das Guest House on Sunday. The meeting was attended by Dr. V. K. Paul, Member, Niti Aayog, Vice Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Kumar Jain, senior officials of Union Health Ministry and top functionaries of the varsity. The Minister was given a presentation on the existing & upcoming health infra at the university.
He said that the health ministry and education ministry will work jointly to address various issues pertaining to funding and governance so as to ensure best delivery of services to the people. He said that IMS-BHU has an element of uniqueness as it is an educational institution as well as a big hospital, hence, it has its own needs and efforts will be made to address its requirements.
The Minister also lauded the university’s work in implementation of Ayushman Bharat Scheme. He said that all efforts must be made to ensure there are no glitches in the implementation of the scheme and no eligible beneficiaries are left out from its coverage.
Dr. V K Paul, Member, Niti Aayog, said that the scheme is a commitment made by the Prime Minister to the people of India for providing free health coverage and we all have to make our best efforts to realize that commitment.
During the interaction, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Kumar Jain said that Banaras Hindu University’s Sir Sunderlal Hospital and Trauma Centre cater to the medical needs of a large population and a wide geographical area, hence, strengthening and upgrading its medical infra is of utmost importance. He apprised the minister about the major challenges faced by the hospital in the course of service delivery.
Prof. Saurabh Singh, Professor In-Charge, Trauma Centre, made a detailed presentation on the upcoming facilities and infrastructure in BHU and the resources and funding needed for their further development. Prof. K. K. Gupta, Medical Superintendent, Sir Sunderlal Hospital, shared information regarding the Ayushman Bharat scheme implementation. Rector Prof. V K Shukla, Registrar, Prof. Arun Kumar Singh, Finance Officer, Dr. Abhay Thakur, Prof. S. K. Singh, Director, Institute of Medical Sciences, Prof. Ashok Choudhary, Dean, Research, and other officials of the university were also present at the meeting.