Govt considering setting up 11 AIIMS like Institutes

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) The government is contemplating setting up five more Medical Institutes on the lines of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), apart from the six already announced.

The decision to set up additional Institutes is being considered in view of the surge in demand for world class medical services in the Public Sector, informed sources said.

Super speciality hospitals are the need of the public, which can ill afford the high price of services provided by the private sector. The issue may come up before the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, the sources said.

Apart from the Cabinet, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs(CCEA) and the Cabinet Committee on Prices(CCP) are also scheduled to meet.

The disinvestment of Neyveli Lignite Corporation and Nalco, which has been put on the agenda of the Cabinet several times but a consenus has eluded the issue so far, may again figure in tomorrow's meeting. The deferrment has largely been due to the firm stand of the left parties, supporting the UPA government, which are against the divestment of profitable PSUs.

Sources said an understanding in this regard may have been reached in the last Co-ordination Committee meeting.

A subject which has been attracting the attention of the government is Empowerment of Public Sector Enterprises. The Cabinet may also take this up.

Another issue of importance is Amendment of the Corruption Act, which is also slated for the Cabinet's not.

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