India Plans NIMHANS-2 to Expand Mental Health Infrastructure & Digital Care

Experts have also suggested developing a National Brain-Mind Cloud Network to connect premier institutions such as AIIMS, state medical colleges, and regional hospitals.

India has announced plans to establish NIMHANS-2 in northern India, aiming to strengthen the country’s mental health ecosystem through expanded specialist care, research capacity, and digital mental health networks.

The proposal was introduced in the Union Budget 2026-27 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighting the government’s growing focus on addressing mental and neurological disorders across the country.

The new institute, NIMHANS-2, will be modelled after the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru, widely regarded as India’s leading centre for psychiatric treatment, neuroscience research, and mental health training.

Health experts have noted that northern India lacks sufficient tertiary neuro-psychiatric facilities, including advanced neuroimaging, neurocritical care, and specialized neurological services.

Establishing NIMHANS-2 is expected to improve access to these services while supporting clinical training and advanced neuroscience research.

Integration with Digital Mental Health Platforms

Integration with the government’s Tele-MANAS initiative and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission was also highlighted as a key step toward expanding tele-mental health services and enabling continuity of care.

In addition to the new institute, the government has announced plans to upgrade the Central Institute of Psychiatry in Ranchi and the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health in Tezpur as regional apex institutions.

These upgrades aim to expand psychiatric treatment capacity, strengthen training programs, and improve trauma care services across eastern and northeastern India.

One proposal discussed during the session was the adoption of a hub-and-spoke model linking tertiary institutes with district hospitals and community health facilities. Such a network could allow specialists at centres like NIMHANS-2 to guide treatment, provide remote consultations, and support clinicians in underserved areas.

National Brain-Mind Cloud Network Proposal

Experts also suggested developing a National Brain-Mind Cloud Network to connect premier institutions such as AIIMS, state medical colleges, and regional hospitals.

The proposed platform could support unified mental health records, AI-based screening tools, data-driven clinical decision systems, and tele-neuro-psychiatric hubs for early intervention.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News