Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious medical institution in Manipur and among the most reputed government medical colleges in Northeast India. The institute's origins trace back to October 22, 1968, when a 300-bed General Hospital was inaugurated by Shri Y.B. Chavan, the then Union Home Minister — the very same hospital block still forms the core of RIMS hospital infrastructure today. On May 22, 1972, the foundation stone of the first ever medical college on Manipur's soil was laid by Shri B.K. Nehru, then Governor of Manipur, under the name Manipur Medical College. On September 14, 1972 — a date now celebrated as RIMS Foundation Day — the college was renamed Regional Medical College, Imphal. Established as a joint venture of the North Eastern States, RIMS underwent several administrative transitions: from the North Eastern Regional Medical College Society, to the Ministry of Home Government of India (1976), then to the North Eastern Council under Ministry of DoNER (from April 1, 1995), and finally to its current home under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India (from April 1, 2007). This journey reflects the institute's evolving national stature over five decades. RIMS is affiliated with Manipur University and is fully recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The institute is managed by a two-tier governance structure: a Board of Governors chaired by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, and an Executive Council chaired by the Secretary, MoHFW — ensuring alignment with national health priorities and highest academic standards. Spread across 300 acres at Lamphelpat in Imphal West, approximately 1.5 km from the city center and 8 km from Bir Tikendrajit International Airport (Tulihal Airport), the campus offers a serene and well-connected environment for medical education. The campus houses 9 lecture halls, examination halls, demonstration rooms, clinical laboratories, departmental museums, an indoor stadium with gallery, the Jubilee Hall auditorium with 1,000-seat balcony capacity, 3 canteens, 12 hostels (for both PG and MBBS students), 249 staff quarters, and a guest house. Banking services within the campus are provided by Union Bank of India and Bank of Baroda, along with ATM facilities. The library and information center is a world-class academic resource with an extensive collection of medical books, Indian and foreign journals, and a digital library with MEDLINE access from WHO, ClinicalKey, and other premium databases. RIMS also operates a Telemedicine Centre, Regional Medical Library, and Advanced Hospital Information and Management System (AIMS). Academically, RIMS is among the most comprehensive medical institutions in India, offering: MBBS (125 seats), BDS — Dental College started September 2012 (50 seats), B.Sc. Nursing — College of Nursing started December 2009 (50 seats), Postgraduate MD/MS programs across 26 disciplines (152 seats), Postgraduate Diploma courses (6 seats), and Super-specialty DM/M.Ch programs in 3 disciplines (5 seats). In January 2025, RIMS became the first Centre of Excellence for Rare Diseases in Northeast India and the 13th such centre nationally — a landmark achievement affirming its growing research and clinical capability. The RIMS Hospital is a 1,074-bed tertiary care teaching facility that serves as a major health referral center for over 20 lakh people across Manipur and neighboring states. It handles over 2.4 lakh outdoor patient visits and 31,000+ inpatient admissions annually, providing unparalleled clinical exposure for MBBS and PG students. The hospital has 18 clinical departments, a dedicated Casualty and Emergency Ward, Blood Bank with regular voluntary donations, ICU, and specialized clinics. Key specialties include Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dermatology, ENT, General Medicine, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, Psychiatry, Radiodiagnosis, Rheumatology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Urology, and Vascular Surgery. As a centrally-run government institute under MoHFW, RIMS offers highly affordable education — total MBBS tuition fee approximately ₹15,000 (total for the full course), making it one of the most cost-effective premier medical colleges in India. Intern stipends are approximately ₹26,300–₹30,000 per month. A 1-year Senior Residency service bond with a ₹20 lakh penalty is mandatory for clinical PG graduates upon completion. RIMS mandates that all MBBS and PG students reside in on-campus hostels, with 12 separate hostels for PG and MBBS students. RIMS consistently ranks as the top medical college in Manipur and among the top 50 nationally — it was the only Northeast medical college to feature in India's Top 40 Medical Institutions in the NIRF rankings (38th in 2019–2020).