The Institute came into existence after tireless efforts of a few visionaries and was tenderly nurtured by great protagonists of the time. A 300 bedded General Hospital was inaugurated by Shri Y.B. Chavan, the then Union Home Minister on October 22, 1968. It is still being used as the main hospital block. On May22, 1972 the foundation stone of the first ever medical college, on the soil of Manipur, having the name of Manipur Medical College was laid by Shri B.K. Nehru, the then Governor of Manipur.

The Medical College was established as a joint venture of the North Eastern States. On September 14, 1972, the name of the College was changed toRegional Medical College, Imphal. The College was later renamed as North Eastern Regional Medical College under the management of North Eastern Regional Medical College Society. From August, 1976, it was run under the Ministry of Home, Government of India and was the only medical college run by the Ministry of Home. Nearly 19 years later, the College was again renamed asRegional Institute of Medical Sciences and its management was taken over by NEC, Ministry of DoNER, Government of India from April 1,1995. After exactly 12 years, on the historic day of April 1, 2007, the Institute was transferred to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India