The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, is expected to achieve the prestigious status of an Institute of National Importance (INI) soon, a designation akin to that of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
This was disclosed by the director of RIMS, professor G Sunil Kumar Sharma, during a press conference held on Monday, which also highlighted the recent successful kidney transplants by the institute.
The director expressed optimism about the institute’s elevation, citing that RIMS has been meticulously following all the necessary procedures and adhered to all stipulated guidelines for its upgradation.
“We remain hopeful and expect that RIMS will achieve the status of an INI in the coming days,” he stated, reinforcing the institute’s commitment to achieving this significant milestone.
He maintained that the push for RIMS to attain the INI status began in 2019 during a Board of Governors meeting attended by the then Health Minister.
The meeting resulted in the formation of a committee comprising the director of AIIMS, the vice-chancellor of Manipur University, and other members, he said, adding that the committee recommended the upgradation of RIMS, emphasising its crucial role as one of the most significant medical institutions in the Northeastern region.
In 2022, RIMS was ranked 46th among medical institutes in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). However, in 2023, RIMS slipped out of the top 50, marking the end of a four-year streak of top-tier recognition.
Addressing this, the director attributed the drop in ranking to the proliferation of AIIMS institutions across the country and expressed that the institute is committed to working harder to regain our position among the top 50.
During the press conference, the director also addressed the controversy regarding the reinstatement of charges for 57 laboratory tests that were previously provided free of cost at RIMS. He clarified that the decision to reintroduce the charges was made by the state government, not by the institute.
He further explained that the reinstated charges apply only to OPD patients, while tests for admitted patients remain free.
Amidst the ongoing crisis in Manipur, RIMS has witnessed a significant increase in the number of OPD patients. The director reported that the daily number of OPD patients has surged from 1,300-1,800 before the crisis to 2,700-3,000 per day since its onset.
He attributed this spike to the public’s trust in RIMS, coupled with the upgradation of infrastructure, advanced equipment, and the affordability of healthcare services at the institute.
The director also addressed the issues of queue congestion and inconvenience faced by OPD patients, appealing to the public to adhere to established norms and guidelines.
He recommended using the ABHA App to book OPD tickets, thereby eliminating the need for long queues.
Patients can conveniently scan QR codes placed at various points in waiting and registration areas using their smartphones, he said adding this approach allows for seamless sharing of demographic details and health records, effectively reducing queue congestion.
