Citizen group bats for AIIMS in Mumbai region

AIIMS, New Delhi. File Pic

Stressing that there is a lack of big medical infrastructure and services in areas beyond the city in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, a citizen group has written to the prime minister, Union health minister and Maharashtra chief minister demanding a branch of the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in MMR.

The MMR includes districts like Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad and has a population of over 2.29 crore. While Mumbai has tertiary care facilities, patients in many other areas do not get super-advanced treatment and health facilities.

As per the citizen group, MumbaiMarch, people from Palghar and Thane have to visit state- and civic-run hospitals in Mumbai, increasing their burden. "As of date, there are 24 AIIMS institutes in India and 6 more are proposed. Most of them are also in cities and states with a smaller population. An AIIMS in Mumbai Metropolitan Region with its dense population will help a larger number of citizens," said Gopal Jhaveri of Mumbaimarch.

An AIIMS campus in Mumbai can also become a medical education hub and help the region overcome the shortage of doctors. "We recently witnessed the distress of our children studying in foreign countries like Ukraine, China and Russia. Mumbai region is also within a 600 to 800 km radius of cities like Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Goa with three international airports and better domestic connectivity.

Keeping the above factors in mind, we have requested to initiate the process of establishing an AIIMS in and around Manori, Vikram Gad or Vasai region," said Jhaveri. A premier institute like AIIMS, Jhaveri said, will boost MMR's economy and create jobs.