Several new courses will be on offer at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans), thanks to the Union Cabinet’s decision on Wednesday to approve a proposal to declare Bangalore’s premier healthcare institution as an institute of national importance.
Nimhans had been seeking the status for several years.
It will now join the ranks the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi; the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and the Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry.
The Cabinet also decided to introduce a National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences Bangalore Bill, 2009 in Parliament to formalise the status. “Once the legislation is enacted, the institute will get more autonomy. We will be able to start several new courses and post-graduate training programmes. Also, this autonomy will enable us to enter international collaborations and take the institute forward,” said Dr V Ravi, registrar, Nimhans.
The decision will also help Nimhans evolve new patterns of teaching, take up new courses on the basis of requirement required and not to restrict itself to the Medical Council of India (MCI) approved courses.
