The Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), the premier health institute western Odisha, sees a new ray of hope for revival after the visit Health and Family Welfare Minister Naba Kishore Das to it on Thursday.

Das, a local resident, discussed with officers about various requirements of the hospital.

The officers also gave suggestions to make available various healthcare facilities for poor people since they can’t afford to the costly nursing homes.

The Minister, who was accompanied by department Secretary Dr Pramod Kumar Meherda and collector Suvam Saxena, spent hours in the hospital premises to know the reality.

“Most of the problems of the institute will be solved within three months. Within this period, 236 acres of land will be permanently transferred to the hospital,” said the Minister.

He said if the Director would place a proposal seeking more autonomy in functioning, including financial and administrative power, the State Government would certainly consider it.

He began the process for appointment of 23 contractual doctors and

said that Associate Professors and Assistant Professors working in the VIMSAR would be promoted to the

next higher posts within July 30.

The Minister said he would visit the hospital every four months and review the progress of works.

The Government is also mulling to convert the VIMSAR to amedical university, he informed.

Talking about the shortage of doctors in Odisha, Das said that it is a worldwide problem now, but 1,100 new doctors, to come out from the Government Medical Colleges and 500 from private ones every year, would solve the problem.

The minister asked the VIMSAR authorities to utilise all sophisticated machines so that the poor patients would not be exploited.

He also said the ventilators returned from here would be reinstalled soon.