The Visakhapatam Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) is set to enhance its medical services with the addition of two specialized institutes — a 50-bedded Ayush hospital and a yoga and naturopathy medical college/hospital.

The state government has allocated 31 crore for the establishment of these facilities on the premises of VIMS.

Recently, the government invited bids from interested parties to set up the Ayush hospital and the naturopathy college/hospital within VIMS. Once operational, these new institutes will complement the existing allopathy services, transforming VIMS into a comprehensive medical hub offering a wide range of healthcare options, including naturopathy, yoga, and Ayurveda.

VIMS, strategically located near the national highway in Vizag city, has been drawing patients from neighboring districts and states due to its advanced medical services. In a recent milestone, the hospital became the first government setup to successfully perform an organ retrieval from a braindead patient.

The Director of VIMS, Dr. K Rambabu, revealed that they have been allotted three acres of land on the VIMS premises for the Ayush hospital and naturopathy medical college. He expressed that the integration of these new facilities with mainstream medicine would elevate VIMS into a medical center of excellence, providing patients with easy access to diverse medical services.

Spanning across approximately 99 acres, VIMS was initially conceptualized to meet the multispecialty medical needs of the people of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, taking inspiration from NIMS in Hyderabad.

In recent times, VIMS has made significant advancements in various departments, such as neurosurgery, surgical oncology, pulmonology, orthopedics, and more. With the upcoming Ayush hospital and naturopathy college, VIMS is further solidifying its position as a prominent medical institution in the region.