On 23rd October 2024, the Central Referral Hospital (CRH) Manipal Gangtok inaugurated an Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) Centre in collaboration with the Sikkim State AIDS Control Society (SSACS). This establishment aligns with the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, which mandate that private medical institutions with an intake of 150 students or more must have an ART Centre. The initiative aims to enhance access to free HIV diagnosis and treatment under the aegis of the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Dr. Murlidhar V. Pai, Dean of SMIMS, and Dr. Deki Wangmu Phempu, Project Director of SSACS. The MoU was co-signed by Dr. Samrat Singh Bhandari, AMS CRH, and Ms. Meena Bhattarai, Assistant Director of Care Support & Treatment (SSACS). Other key attendees included Dr. Bidita Khandelwal, Head of the Department of Medicine; Mr. Subhendu Prakash, COO of CRH; Dr. Suruchi Maheshwari, Operations Manager; Dr. Mala Sharma from the Quality Department; and Dr. B.N. Sharma, Nodal Officer of the ART Centre at STNM Hospital.

Additionally, Dr. Pramila Giri, Medical Officer, and Ms. Pema Lamu, ART Counsellor & Data Manager from the ART Centre, were present, along with NACP Counsellors and Technicians from CRH. The inauguration was followed by official photography, marking a significant step toward strengthening HIV care in Sikkim.