Balasore: Foundation stone of the much-awaited satellite centre of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, in Balasore was laid by Union health minister J.P. Nadda on Saturday.
Nadda said that the satellite centre would be built as a 300-bed superspecialty hospital in a phased manner.
Highlighting the Ayushman Bharat scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day, the Union minister said the Odisha government was not inclined to be part of the scheme due to political reasons.
"Since a large number of people from Odisha migrate to other states for jobs, the Ayushman Bharat scheme would help them avail health care facilities. The Odisha government should consider being part of it in the interest of people of the state," said the health minister.
Gitanjali Batmanabane, director of the AIIMS in Bhubaneswar, said the satellite centre was the first of its kind for any AIIMS after Delhi.
Announcement of the AIIMS satellite centre in Balasore was made in 2014 by the UPA minister Gulam Nabi Azad.
The state government has provided 25 acres in Balia for the purpose.
Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was present on the occasion, said a resin storing unit would be set up at Bhadraripokhari.
He said Balasore had an ample of scope for establishment of a fish processing unit in the district.
