Bhubaneswar: Odisha government today asked the Centre to set up a National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Science (NIMHANS) besides expediting establishment of a para-medical Training Institute in the state.

The proposals of the state government was given by Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya when the Union Health Secreatary P K Pradhan met him here. "We want a Bangalore-type NIMHANs here in Odisha," Acharya told reporters after the meeting.

Acharya said that the state government had already identified land for the para-medical training institute here.

This apart, the state government also demanded enhancement of MBBS seats in all the government-run medical colleges from 150 to 250 and upgradation of geriatric department at the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.

"We have also demanded facilities of super speciality in two other medical colleges at Berhampur and Burla," the minister said.

Asked about his views, Pradhan said "I will put forth the demands made by the health minister before the government of India."