Planning Commission asks NEIGRIHMS to draft action plan

Having pegged an amount of nearly Rs 2,000 crore for the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in the 12th Plan, the Planning Commission has asked the institute to prepare a 'comprehensive development plan'.
"The Planning Commission has asked NEIGRIHMS to draw a 'comprehensive development plan' for both proposed upgradation of the nursing institute and the regional cancer institute as it would lead to convergence which would improve economy, and provide better results," the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Joint Secretary Lov Varma said here.
He said, "The Centre has projected almost Rs 2,000 crore for NEIGRIHMS. It projected Rs 1992.96 crore during the 12th Plan, while expressing regret that the money allocated during the 11th Plan was not utilised fully by the only super- specialty hospital for the region built at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore.

"Of the total allocation during the 11th Plan, the actual release was Rs 321.85 crore. The expenditure detailed indicated that not all money utilised by the institute but I hope things will change," Varma said.
The Centre has also approved two projects within the institute at an estimated Rs 377 crore - the setting expansion project of the nursing college and the setting up of a regional cancer institute, the official said.
"The expansion of the nursing project was approved at Rs 61.89 crore, the approval of which was made in October last year by the Minister for Health and Family Welfare," Varma said.