Balasore, Jan. 22: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar will set up primary check-up facilities at the district headquarters hospital here.

The central government has already sanctioned a satellite unit of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar in Balasore, and work on it began in November last.

Local MP Rabindra Kumar Jena made the suggestion to institute director Ashok Mahapatra during his visit to the Fakir Mohan University today.

"We can extend screening service to the patients at district headquarters hospital," he said, after inspecting the hospital's infrastructure.

Jena made the suggestion since the satellite unit might take another two to three years to complete.

Mahapatra said: "We can extend the service and primary check-up facilities to the patients here. We can spare our specialists to conduct screening twice or thrice a week. The temporary unit will work as an outpatient wing of AIIMS till the satellite unit is completed."

After the preliminary check-up, the patients referred by the visiting doctors can avail themselves of specialised treatment at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar without going through outpatient check-up at the institute once again.

Mahapatra also visited the trauma care centre, a newly constructed building lying unused. The check-up service would require around 10 rooms, which are readily available at the trauma care centre.

A 20-acre patch at Balia has been identified for the AIIMS satellite unit - a 300-bed super-specialty hospital. The construction of the boundary wall began after Rs 1.6 crore had been sanctioned.

"We gave a proposal to the director to offer initial screening to the patients, who want to avail themselves of the treatment of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar. He has agreed to spare manpower. We will now try to obtain administrative approval from the central and state governments to start the service," Jena said.