New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Banaras Hindu University (BHU) on Friday to enhance funding and provide technical support to the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS). Health Minister JP Nadda and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present at the event, according to a statement from the Health Ministry.
The MoU will enable IMS to receive grants-in-aid similar to those provided to new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) being established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).
This funding initiative aims to improve access to affordable, advanced secondary and tertiary healthcare services in the region. It is also expected to reduce patient referrals by strengthening clinical care services, thereby enhancing the overall patient experience, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, and increasing satisfaction levels.
The Health Ministry highlighted its ongoing support for IMS through various schemes designed to establish new facilities and upgrade existing infrastructure. Recognizing IMS’s excellence and potential, the ministry emphasized the need for increased support to ensure the delivery of top-tier healthcare services.
During the signing event, Health Minister JP Nadda described the MoU as a reflection of the government’s “whole-of-government” approach, which fosters interdepartmental collaboration to achieve shared goals for public benefit.
Nadda also underscored the partnership between AIIMS, New Delhi, and IMS, BHU, noting that it would raise teaching standards and drive research excellence. He proposed regular student and faculty exchanges between IMS and AIIMS to further improve outcomes.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan added that the MoU would strengthen academic and research collaborations between the two institutions. He highlighted its role in sharing expertise, particularly in areas such as robotic surgery, hospital administration, governance, and upgrading clinical and healthcare facilities.
Pradhan concluded that the agreement would support IMS in its journey to becoming a world-class institute.