Nadda Says India Now Has 23 AIIMS, Reviews Progress of AIIMS Bibinagar
Hyderabad, July 10 (TNT): Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday said the healthcare sector has witnessed unprecedented expansion under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that India now has 23 AIIMS, of which 18 are operational, while the remaining are at various stages of construction.
Reviewing the progress of AIIMS Bibinagar, outskirs of the city, an Institute of National Importance established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), Nadda stressed the need to further strengthen medical infrastructure and human resources to meet the country’s growing healthcare needs.
The Union Minister reviewed the progress of the Rs 1,110.55-crore project, construction of which began in June 2022.
Addressing officials, Nadda said the Centre has adopted an integrated approach by simultaneously strengthening primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare infrastructure. H
He said the country now has 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs serving nearly 1.5 billion people, while the number of medical colleges has increased from 387 in 2014 to 820.
Officials informed the Minister that AIIMS Bibinagar currently has 132 faculty members and 133 senior residents. The institute offers MBBS, postgraduate programmes in 24 MD disciplines and five DM/MCh specialities, besides B.Sc. and M.Sc. Nursing and allied health courses. It currently has 902 students.
The institute provides outpatient services across all major specialities and caters to around 1,800 patients daily. It has 250 inpatient beds, while emergency services have recently commenced. CT, MRI and DEXA diagnostic facilities are available, and teleconsultation services are being provided across all 33 districts of Telangana through the e-Sanjeevani platform.
Officials said around 90 per cent of patients are registered under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The institute has secured Rs 64 crore in research grants through 129 projects, published 1,156 research papers, and is collaborating with DRDO in developing the ADIDOC carbon-impregnated leg prosthesis.
Appreciating the institute’s community outreach initiatives, Nadda said AIIMS Bibinagar has adopted six villages and organised 547 mobile medical camps. Its Rural and Urban Health Training Centres have benefited more than 66,000 patients, while its community radio station has broadcast 43 educational programmes.
Officials informed the Union Minister that 87.4 per cent of the project, involving works worth about Rs 902 crore, has been completed. Hospital blocks, the AYUSH building, academic block and hostel buildings have been completed, while the radiotherapy and operation theatre complex is nearing completion.
Nadda stressed the need to recruit more senior residents and faculty members, suggesting that the Standing Selection Committee meet at least four times a year to expedite appointments.
He also recommended faculty exchange programmes with other AIIMS institutions and greater engagement of visiting faculty.
The Union Minister later visited the inpatient wards, the upcoming Cath Lab, the robotic navigation system for tumour ablation and biopsy in the Department of Radiology, the AYUSH block, vaccination centre, yoga facility and the community radio station before reviewing ongoing construction works on the campus.
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