RGICD may become a national institute

BANGALORE: If everything goes well according to the plans, the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) will become a national institute on the lines of NIMHANS.The institute which currently has two departments-Pulmonary Medicine and Thoracic Surgery - will be upgraded with more departments like Radiology, Anaesthesia, Respiratory Pathology, Biochemistry, Physiology and many more.A three member team from the Union Health Ministry was supposed to visit and inspect the institute on August 16.The visit has been put off due to the ongoing Parliament session.Speaking to Express Dr Shashidhar Buggi, Director, SDS RB and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD) said, “In the meeting with Medical Education S A Ramadas on Wednesday, I have requested him to send one more letter to the Union Health Minister on the issue.”In the absence of colleges which offer a postgraduate course in Thoracic Surgery or super specialty courses in Pulmonology, the upgradation of the institute will prove boon to the state, he said.“Unlike Cardiac surgery which has been given a lot of importance, ninety percent of the medical colleges across the state do not have Pulmonary Medicine and Thoracic Surgery courses. With  the proposed upgradation, the institute can start all these courses,” he added.Besides this, the institute will also be able to conduct research work on the impact of environment on lungs, which adversely affects with change in the environment pollution. It will also help in carrying out the research work in respiratory disorders and tuberculosis (TB) management.Unit of National Institute of Virology The Finance Department has cleared the project to set up a unit of National Institute of Virology (Pune), in the institute campus, for which, the NIV director and the RGICD director have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).Medical Education Minister A Ramadas, who had announced this proposal a few months ago, will soon meet the Union health minister to urge him to include this  project in the 12th five year plan.