The central government aims to make the National Institute of homoeopathy (NIH) in Kolkata a world-class centre with greater emphasis on research and development, Union Ayush minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.
A Rs 300-crore satellite unit of the Kolkata-based centre of excellence in homoeopathy under the ministry of Ayush is being constructed in Delhi, he said.
"We want to make the National Institute of homoeopathy a world-class centre with a greater focus on research and development. The work for the satellite centre is progressing," Sonowal said.
NIH director Subhas Singh requested the minister to allow the house staff system at the institute for the sake of the career of the students.
The students of NIH do not get the opportunity to work as house staff like other medical college hospitals in the state and fail to get marks in that category, Singh said.
Sonowal assured the students to look into the matter.
The Union minister later wrote on Facebook: "It was great to interact with the faculty and students of the National Institute of Homoeopathy (NIH) in Kolkata this evening. The institute plays an essential role in offering holistic treatment to patients. I believe NIH will increase its ambit to serve society further.
We are taking various steps to develop NIH and the student community. A well-equipped auditorium will be built, and the issue of stipend enhancement will be looked at.
A Satellite Centre of NIH at Narela in New Delhi will also be operational soon."