The President Pranab Mukherjee will address the golden jubilee celebrations of the Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) on Friday.
Addressing media persons here on Thursday, Jipmer Director T.S. Ravikumar said Mr. Mukherjee would deliver the golden jubilee address at the Jipmer auditorium. He would receive a copy of souvenir from Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan.
The institute, originally known as Ecole de Medicine de Pondicherry, was established during the French rule in southern India. After transition of power, it was named as Dhanvanthri Medical College in 1956 and in 1964, it was renamed after the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Jipmer is considered one of the premier multi-speciality hospitals of the country with a majority of its patients getting free treatment. With the bed strength of 2059, the institution records about 6,200 out patients and 600 emergency cases daily. Dr. Ravikumar said that as part of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 2014, several programmes were being conducted every month since January.
On expansion activities, he said the International School of Public Health was being established at a cost of Rs. 150 crore and six satellite centres would be created to strengthen healthcare services.
Adding that the shortage of manpower would be addressed by creating additional posts, he also said the Super Specialty Block was being expanded with a transplantation centre and a neuro vascular stroke unit. He also said the old hospital buildings were being modernised with modern firefighting systems.
Lieutenant Governor A.K. Singh and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy are also scheduled to participate in the celebrations.
Meanwhile, Omvir Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police said a fool-proof security arrangement had been put in place for the President’s visit. “Around 1,000 policemen will be on duty and around 650 men will be directly patrolling the Jipmer area. Personnel from Indian Reserve Battalion, Quick Reaction Team, Special Branch, local police have been deployed.”
