"Shift us to other AIIMS or JIPMER": AIIMS Madurai medicos stage protest over Inadequate Infrastructure

Ramanathapuram: Pointing out that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Madurai lacks even basic infrastructure, the medical students enrolled at the institute staged a demonstration recently and urged the authorities to provide them with basic amenities immediately.

According to a recent report by The Hindu, the students' representatives said that they were facing difficulties in doing practical assignments due to poor infrastructural facilities. The students further claimed that they were informed by the authorities that there could not be a permanent arrangement since the institute building is a temporary one.

Recently raising the plights of medical students enrolled at the Institute, a Delhi-based doctor and Health Activist Dr. Dhruv Chauhan claimed that the institute lacks even the basic infrastructure required to run a medical college. Unveiling the 'real' condition of the institute, Dr. Chauhan, a Med-Influencer and also the National Committee Co-ordinator of the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors' Network (IMA-JDN) expressed his disappointment over the fact that the reputation of AIIMS, a premier medical institute, does not match the current scenario of AIIMS Madurai.

Also Read: Lack of Basic Infrastructure: Doctor flags Plight of AIIMS Madurai Medicos, says Institute's reputation doesn't match reality

As per the X post by Dr Chauhan, there are no patients in wards at the institute for clinical examination and there is a prohibition in visiting the OPD and OT. He also claimed that the institute lacks proper facilities to accommodate the medical students and as a result, 5 students are staying in a single room.

He also alleged that the libraries at the institute are so poor that there are no books for anyone except the 1st year medical students. In another post, he shared a picture of a library showing only one of the two almirahs in the picture filled with books.

The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of the AIIMS facility in Thoppur under the Thirupparankundram Assembly constituency in the Madurai district back in 2018. Consequently, the project was approved under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) at a cost of Rs 1,900 crore.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the AIIMS in Madurai when he paid a visit to the district in January 2019. Despite the foundation stone being laid in 2019, the work for the institute did not commence. However, the AIIMS administration had invited applications from students aspiring to pursue MBBS course.

The State Government, as a temporary measure, gave the entire fifth floor of the new building of the Government Medical College and Hospital, Ramanathapuram, for exclusive use of the AIIMS students. Accordingly, the classes have been underway for the last three years. There are around 50 students in each batch.

Back in January, the AIIMS administration through advertisements, had invited applications from landowners for giving space for AIIMS students in Madurai, preferably near the upcoming Thoppur site. However, the students claimed that the response in this regard has been poor. The students further added that they were clueless about being shifted to Madurai premises.

The video of the students complaining about the lack of basic infrastructure is currently doing rounds on social media platforms. In the video, the students are seen claiming that they do not even have the basic facilities such as proper security. According to the students they are also facing huge problems because of the language barriers.

They also expressed their concerns that they might not get passing marks in their exams for protesting against the problems faced by the students at the institute. They questioned why no one is concerned over the fact that the medical students are not getting proper education. They also asked if the Health Minister was willing to be treated by AIIMS Madurai students. In the video, the students were seen holding placards that read, "Shift us to other AIIMS or JIPMER."

Sharing the video on X (formerly Twitter), a user wrote, "Seems Another BIG SCAM -AIIMS Madurai as per JP Nadda is 95% Completed. -But at ground its just piece of barren land with walls. -MBBS students forced to work in Local Hospital, qualified in the name Of AIIMs. -When Ramdev Type Quackers are promoted, who need Good doctors?"

"The condition of AIIMS Madurai is like that of AIIMS Darbhanga. It's running without any Building or Infrastructure. The Govt has been misleading Students from past 3 years," another user highlighted.

Raising the issue, a doctor wrote, "Modi lied to these kids, with admission given to AIIMS Madurai which doesn't actually exist physically. The stop gap measure was to place these kids in nearby TN State medical colleges."

Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, a senior official in the AIIMS told The Hindu in Madurai that they are taking steps to ensure that the transition is completed smoothly. While things got suspended temporarily because of the Lok Sabha elections, students would get to know about the progress in about a month. 

Responding to the queries regarding the non-availability of proper facilities for doing practical classes, the officials informed the Daily that arrangements have been made with the Government Medical College Hospital in Ramanathapuram.

Also Read: Madras HC issues notice to Centre on PIL to expedite construction of AIIMS Madurai