All Party Delegation from West Bengal Calls on Dr. Ramadoss
	13:36 IST

The Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has assured all cooperation to West Bengal in the field of public health. He said that the Government is committed for setting up an AIIMS like Institute in West Bengal and formalities in this regard are being completed. He was speaking to an all-party delegation from West Bengal led by the State Health Minister Dr. Surjya Kanta Mishra here today. The delegation also raised the issue of vaccine supply to the State. Dr. Ramadoss assured the delegation that by next month sufficient supply of vaccines will be in place to ensure the vaccine calendar in the State. On the issue of suspension of licenses of CRI Kasauli, Pasteur Institute Coonur and BCG Vaccine Laboratory of Guindy, Chennai, the Minister said that the quality standards in vaccine production are paramount. On the demand of utilizing Pasteur Institute, Kolkata for manufacture of vaccines, Dr. Ramadoss said that a senior team would explore the possibility of doing so keeping in mind the capacity and quality requirements on a sustained basis. On the issue of various relaxation of norms for setting up of new medical colleges in the State Dr. Ramadoss said that the medical education in the country will be expanded without compromising quality and in accordance with Medical Council of India’s recommendations. The Union Health Minister also detailed the achievements of the National Rural Health Mission in the State and advised the delegation to promote and take full advantage of the resource mobilization being done under the NRHM. DS/GK/West Bengal/394