Lok Sabha manages to pass AIIMS Bill amid ruckus

Amid the ruckus over the CAG report on coal block allocation issue, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed a bill that would allow the government to set up All India Institute of Medical Sciences-like institutes across the country by a notification.

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2012, will replace an Ordinance which allowed the six AIIMS-like institutes to become operational from September 15.

The bill also confers powers upon the Centre to establish AIIMS-like institutions by notification in the official gazette.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arjun Ram Meghwal had given notice for a Statutory Resolution to disapprove the AIIMS (Amendment) Ordinance. However, the resolution could not be taken up as Meghwal was not present.

In an effort to correct the imbalance in the availability of affordable healthcare, six AIIMS-like medical institutes were announced for Patna, Bhopal, Raipur, Bhubaneshwar, Jodhpur and Rishikesh.

"The six states in which the institutes were established had requested the central government to make them operational urgently and to commence the academic session in September, 2012," the Statement of Objects and Reasons said.

The proposed measure will also help the Centre change the status of the six new AIIMS registered under the Societies Registration Act to be an autonomous body on the lines of the existing AIIMS in Delhi.

According to the Financial Memorandum, an estimated cost of Rs 4,920 crore -- Rs 820 crore per AIIMS -- has been approved.