Union Health Minister inaugurates Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at AIIMS Rajkot

Rajkot: Union Health Minister JP Nadda visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot on Saturday to inaugurate the institute's state-of-the-art Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), which aims to end the state’s dependency on National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune in Maharashtra. 

According to an ANI report, JP Nadda after visiting AIIMS said, "Earlier, this institute (AIIMS Rajkot) was dependent on NIV (National Institute of Virology) Pune for virus detection, now it is self-sufficient for virus detection. PM Modi envisioned providing tertiary (higher-end) healthcare facilities to the common people".

The Health Minister also highlighted that only one institute of AIIMS was established under the Congress rule and now under PM Modi's leadership, the country has 22 AIIMS, out of which 18 are operational.

Earlier in the day, JP Nadda along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhpendra Patel flagged off the 'Tiranga Yatra' in Rajkot.

Addressing a public gathering during the Tiranaga Yatra, Nadda said, "Today as we set out on 'Tiranga Yatra' and see 'Tiranaga' all around us, the period of freedom also comes to mind. The state (Gujarat) has played a big role in the independence movement of our nation."

“Despite suffering from delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AIIMS Rajkot has emerged as one of the fastest growing institutes. Its OPD, IPD and trauma (department) have seen a sharp increase in patient visits. The government’s effort is to ensure it gets the best faculty members and doctors so as to make Rajkot AIIMS a high-ranking institute to serve humanity and the people of Saurashtra,” he told reporters, news agency PTI reported.

The VRD Lab he inaugurated is a Biological Safety Level (BSL) 2 category lab, which will soon be upgraded to BSL 3, Nadda said, adding it is a self-sufficient institution for virus detection that removes the dependency on NIV Pune.

Speaking about the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom struggle, Nadda, said, "The nation can never forget the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi who played a big role in achieving independence. It is our pleasure that Mahatma Gandhi's connection was also with the land of this state."

The Union Minister further said, "We also cannot forget the contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who played a big role in uniting the princely states with India", news agency ANI reported.

"It is our pleasure that PM Modi's connection was also with the land of Gujarat, who has taken a resolve to make Viksit Bharat," the BJP president said. 

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