AIIMS Must Lead India's Healthcare Expansion, Says Anupriya Patel at 71st Foundation Day

Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, addressed the 71st Foundation Day celebrations of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, as the Chief Guest. The event marked over seven decades of the institute's contributions to healthcare, medical education, research, and innovation.

In her address, Patel said that since its inception in 1956, AIIMS New Delhi has held a special place in the country's healthcare journey. She noted that the name AIIMS has become synonymous with clinical excellence and public trust, while adding that this legacy brings greater responsibility for the future.

Highlighting the transformation of India's healthcare and medical education landscape, Patel stated that the country has expanded from a single AIIMS at the turn of the century to a network of 23 AIIMS institutions. Since 2014, the number of medical colleges has increased from 387 to over 800, and undergraduate medical seats have risen from 51,000 to nearly 1.3 lakh, along with a substantial expansion in postgraduate opportunities. She added that the government envisions adding another 75,000 medical seats to further strengthen this framework, linking such expansion to equity and access.

Patel emphasised that quality medical education must reach every region, advanced tertiary healthcare must be brought closer to citizens, and the country must build a strong pool of doctors, nurses, scientists, and allied healthcare professionals. She said AIIMS New Delhi has a special responsibility as the apex mentor and as an institution that has set a benchmark for the rest of the country.

Speaking about the scale of healthcare services at AIIMS New Delhi, Patel said the institution's enormous clinical volume should not be viewed merely through statistics. Millions of outpatient visits represent individuals and families placing their trust in the institution, while admissions and surgeries represent situations in which patients entrust their lives to its doctors, nurses, and support staff. She stressed that this trust must be earned and nurtured every day.

Patel also highlighted AIIMS' role at the forefront of advanced medical care and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotic surgery, organ transplantation, and advanced diagnostics. She emphasised that technology must remain an instrument for better patient care and should complement, rather than replace, human clinical judgement. She noted that AI cannot replace a physician's intuition, a robotic arm cannot replace a surgeon's judgement, and technology cannot replace the reassuring human presence of a nurse.

She underlined that quality healthcare must also be reflected in the patient's overall experience. She called for the AIIMS premises to be made more navigable for citizens and emphasised the importance of empathy, clear communication, dignity, and patient-centred care. She also referred to the importance of patient safety and the collective responsibility of doctors, nurses, technicians, and administrative personnel.

Patel stressed that expansion of healthcare infrastructure must go hand in hand with quality. She noted that a new ward requires adequate nursing support, specialised services require trained professionals, and digital initiatives should help reduce friction for patients. She said growth and quality must progress together and that AIIMS New Delhi should continue to demonstrate that expansion in scale can coexist with high standards of patient care.

Highlighting the growing importance of preventive healthcare, Patel said India's health priorities increasingly focus on prevention, early detection, and timely management, particularly in the context of non-communicable and lifestyle-related diseases. She called upon AIIMS to leverage its intellectual capital to contribute to public health policy, community health, lifestyle management, and preventive medicine. She also underlined the importance of the National Health Policy, 2017, and the broader shift towards preventive and promotive healthcare.

Referring to the role of Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) in expanding access to healthcare and protecting vulnerable families from the financial burden of medical treatment, Patel noted that AB PM-JAY has completed eight years and has covered more than 62 crore beneficiaries.

Patel further emphasised that AIIMS New Delhi must increasingly function as a national hub for capacity building and indigenous innovation. She said the impact of AIIMS should be measured not only by the number of patients treated on its campus but also by the national capacity it creates by training healthcare professionals and enabling AIIMS-level expertise to reach other parts of the country. She also stressed that research should bridge the gap between the laboratory and the patient and translate into clinical use and public benefit.

She underlined the need for greater development, validation, and implementation of indigenous medical technologies. She said India cannot rely indefinitely on imported medical technologies and that academia, hospitals, and Indian industry must work together to develop solutions suited to the country's healthcare requirements. She called upon AIIMS to contribute to an ecosystem in which India not only adopts advanced healthcare solutions but also develops them.

Patel also called for greater attention to the health and well-being of healthcare professionals themselves. She emphasised that along with treating patients, the health of doctors and other healthcare professionals is equally important for building a healthy nation. She stressed the importance of inculcating healthy habits among healthcare professionals from a young age.

During the event, Patel inaugurated an exhibition titled 'AIIMS: Seven Decades of Healthcare Innovation', showcasing seven decades of milestones and achievements. Over 1,500 school students are expected to participate in health education and community outreach activities at the exhibition.