IMPHAL, Oct 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unveiled healthcare and infrastructure projects valued at Rs 12,850 crore, which includes the expansion of Ayushman Bharat insurance benefits to senior citizens aged 70 and above. Manipur is among the states that will benefit from these new healthcare initiatives.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh expressed his honor in participating in the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Critical Care Block at Thoubal District Hospital. He highlighted that this project is a crucial step toward enhancing healthcare access for all citizens in Manipur. The initiative, part of the Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), aims to strengthen the state’s healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that essential medical services are available, especially during critical times.
In a significant improvement to healthcare accessibility, PM Modi introduced a drone service designed to transport medical supplies to remote healthcare facilities, including the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal. This innovative initiative aims to address accessibility issues by enabling the swift delivery of essential medical resources to underserved areas.
These announcements were made in conjunction with the ninth Ayurveda Day and the birth anniversary of Dhanvantari. On this occasion, Modi inaugurated the second phase of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi, which features a Panchakarma hospital, an Ayurvedic pharmacy, a sports medicine unit, and a 500-seat auditorium aimed at furthering research in traditional medicine.
Modi also expanded the scope of the Ayushman Bharat scheme by launching the U-WIN portal, which will streamline vaccination administration for pregnant women and infants, covering 12 preventable diseases. Additionally, a central database for allied healthcare professionals was unveiled to improve coordination across India’s healthcare system.
As part of the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, a new critical care block will be established in Manipur to enhance intensive care services for residents. This initiative is part of a broader plan to set up 21 critical care blocks across five states, including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Furthermore, Modi laid the foundation for five new nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh and inaugurated three medical colleges. Facilities at AIIMS institutions, including AIIMS Guwahati, Patna, and Bilaspur, will also be expanded to bolster medical training and services.
In support of India’s Make in India initiative, the Prime Minister announced five Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) projects in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing of critical medical devices and bulk drugs. These initiatives align with India’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the healthcare sector, ensuring a reliable supply of locally-produced medical resources.
