Report by OD bureau; Bhubaneswar: Odisha government urges Centre to set up a National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Science (NIMHANS) like hospital in the state. Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya given these proposals of the state government to the visiting Union Health Secretary P K Pradhan.

During a meeting with health secretary at his office in the state secretariat, the minister also asked the Union health secretary to expedite process for establishment of the proposed Regional Institute of Paramedical Sciences (RIPS). Acharya said that the state government had already identified land for the para-medical training institute here. Besides this, the state government has also demanded enhancement of MBBS seats in all the government-run medical colleges from 150 to 250 and upgradation of geriatric department at the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.

Acharya requested the Union health secretary to upgrade the geriatric ward of SCB Medical College and Hospital into a Regional Geriatric centre.