Mumbai, Oct 31 (IANS): Several healthcare institutions of India including the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) were selected as the best hospitals by the British Medical Journal for having the best medicine experts in South Asia, an achievement that is likely to further improve the Indian medical brand worldwide.

Among the other hospitals chosen for the BMJ award 2015 are Kochi's Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Pune based Chest Research Foundation and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) of Chandigarh. Over 900 hospitals from South Asian countries were nominated for the award on Friday.

Apart from delivering quality health care to the needy, the hospitals were also chosen for imparting quality medical education to the students pursuing various courses in the institutions.

"The awards reflect our desire to recognise and showcase excellence in the practice of medicine in South Asia. The nominations that we received this year truly added credence to the stature of the awards. We hope the awards this year highlight the most spectacular achievements of doctors in South Asia and help the winners and the finalists receive the acknowledgment they truly deserve," said Tim Brooks, CEO of BMJ Awards.

Prashant Mishra, managing director, BMJ India, said "The second edition of the awards have received phenomenal response from doctors and healthcare professionals across South Asia and has helped to bring to the forefront stories of excellence in healthcare in the region."