Health Ministry inks MoU to provide funding, technical support to BHU's Institute of Medical Sciences

Varanasi: Recently, the Union Health Ministry entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and the Ministry of Education to provide enhanced funding and technical support to the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), BHU.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed enables provision of grant in aid to IMS, BHU by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the lines of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

Union Minister Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda and Union Education Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan were present on the occasion.

The provision of grant to IMS BHU by MoHFW will enhance the availability of affordable state-of-the-art secondary and tertiary health care services to the people of the region. It will contribute significantly in reducing referrals by enhancing delivery of clinical care services.

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This will result not only in increased patient experience and satisfaction but is expected to notably reduce out of pocket expenditure on patient care. Union Health Ministry has from time to time been providing support to IMS, BHU under various schemes for establishment of new facilities and upgradation of existing ones. Considering the excellence of IMS BHU and its potential to further improve the quality of health care services, need was felt for providing enhanced support to enable it to deliver healthcare services of highest standards.

Calling this a historic day, Shri J P Nadda stated that this MoU is a result of the Union Government's “whole of the government” approach, which fosters increased collaboration across various government departments for shared goals aimed towards people’s benefit.

Shri Nadda emphasized that this MoU would establish close partnership between AIIMS, New Delhi, and IMS, BHU leading to higher teaching standards and excellence in research outcomes too. He also proposed regular student and faculty exchanges between IMS, BHU and AIIMS for enhanced outcomes.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Pradhan said that the MoU will deepen academic and research collaboration between AIIMS and IMS BHU paving the way for sharing of knowledge and expertise, particularly in the areas of upgradation of clinical and healthcare facilities, robotics surgery, hospital administration and governance among others. The MoU will help establish IMS, BHU as a world-class institute, he added.

Smt. Punya Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that “this MoU provides for sharing of experience, technical support and academic cooperation between the two Institutes. This is in alignment with the Union Govt’s “whole of government” and “whole of society” approach.”

Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Education said, “the MoU provides for both technical and administrative support to IMS, BHU and this has been possible because of the government’s commitment to a collaborative approach.”

Prof. Sudhir K. Jain, Vice Chancellor, BHU noted that, “It is rare for an institute to be supported by two Ministries.” He said BHU will continue to enhance its teaching standards, research outputs and assured that the MoU will be implemented in letter and spirit.

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