ndaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS), Port Blair came into being on 1st Sep, 2015 (Academic Session 2015-16).Opening up of a Medical College in Port Blair was a long cherished dream of the Islanders for almost 04 decades. 107 acres of land was allocated by A&N Administration for the establishment of the Medical College in mid-80’s.

A high level committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration was constituted, which after due deliberation recommended to establish a Medical and an Engineering College at Port Blair.

All efforts were on to establish a Medical College at Port Blair and it was decided to open it under a PPP model.Before the decision of establishment of MedicalCollege under PPP module could be finalized, a centrally sponsored scheme came into being in 2013 whereby 55 district hospitals (having 20 acres of land, 300 beds and no medical college in that district) were to be upgraded to Medical College.

A & N Administration decided to establish a Medical College in Port Blair utilizing this centrally sponsored scheme whereby central funding was 75% (one time share for the cost of the project). This funding has been later reduced to 60% by central share.

A society named Andaman & Nicobar Islands Medical Education &Research Society (ANIMERS) was constituted in late 2013 with Chief Secretary as its Chairman and Principle Secretary Health as its Vice Chairman with Hon’ble LG as the President of Governing Council. A Consultant to ANIMERS was hired in April 2014 with an aim to establish a Medical College at Port Blair at the earliest. The medical college was named as Andaman & Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS).

DPR was prepared and submitted to MoH& FW with the MCI application and letter of Consent for affiliation from the Pondicherry University to permit opening of a Medical College with 100 students to MBBS course at Port Blair by upgrading GBPH (an erstwhile district hospital of South Andaman).All preparation were made (acquisition of land,infrastructure,equipments/instruments) recruitment of faculty both teaching and non-teaching was completed. MCI team inspected the proposed college on 21st and 22nd Jan 2015.Observation were made which were successfully implemented. Following this MCI team carried out 1st compliance inspection for LOP on 24th April 2015. Deficiency pointed by the team were again complied with. Secretary-Health also submitted an affidavit to comply with all the shortcomings within a stipulated time frame.

Letter of Permission (LOP) to start a Medical College at Port Blair admitting 100 students to 1st year MBBS course at Port Blair was received from MoH& FW, GOI on 8th June 2015. 15% (15 seats) were contributed to All India quota, which is mandatory and rest of the 85% (85 seats) were reserved for local students. Preparation to admit 100 students in the college were begun immediately. As per Hon’ble Supreme Court orders, all admissions in any Medical College have to be made only after qualifying an entrance examination, consequently A & N Administration conducted an entrance test (ANIPMT- 2015) for admitting 85 local students while 15 students against All India quota had to qualify an entrance test (AIPMT) conducted by CBSE. 1st Batch for MBBS course in ANIIMS commenced on 1st Sep 2015.

Pondicherry University carried out its 1st Inspection on 26th& 27th Sep 2015 and letter of provisional affiliation was given on 14th Jan 2016. The ANIPMT entrance examination was replaced by NEET from June, 2017 as per the directive of Hon’ble Supreme Court. Subsequently all the students are being admitted depending on NEET qualifying criteria.Hence, MBBS admission process in ANIIMS, Port Blair is purely based on NEET score and rank. Out of 100 seats 15 seats are All India Quota and 85 for state quota. However, in 2020 EWS quota was started which has 10 number of seats. Candidates who seek admission in MBBS course at ANIIMS under different categories are admitted strictly according to the criteria mentioned in the ANIIMS prospectus set by A&N Administration.

MCI conducts yearly Inspection to accord permission to admit students.To keep up with the rising demand of patient intake multiple interviews are regularly held to fill the post of faculty, senior residents, tutor and junior residents, nurses and paramedical staffs. In 2020 the first batch of students passed out and joined their compulsory rotator Internship Programme.These students got recognition from MCI as well as Pondicherry university.They played a crucial role in the management of COVID cases during the first Spike in the Island.Thus the basic aim of ANIIMS to fulfill the health care need of the Island was accomplished to a great extent. At present ANIIMS has 24 number of specialty services run by 67 numberof highly skilled faculties,covering all aspects of medical education and health care need.ANIIMS also provides five super-specialty services like Cardiology,Nephrology, Pediatric Surgery, Physical Medicine &Rehabilitation and Child and adolescent Psychiatry. It has also extended specialised services to other remote part of the island such as Nicobar groups of islands, Neil,Mayabunder etc.