Delhi AIIMS plans to take over 800-bed multispecialty hospital in Shanti Path

New Delhi: Patients visiting the premier health institute, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, would now be able to avail of extended bed facilities as AIIMS, in collaboration with New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is planning to acquire an under-constructed 800-bed multispeciality hospital in south Delhi’s Moti Bagh and use it as an extension of the institute.  

The move is aimed at improving patient healthcare and increasing the bed capacity so that patients would not have to suffer due to the shortage of beds and long waiting period. 

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Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about a proposal to expand the emergency department of AIIMS, which would add around 300 beds in the emergency block. This initiative was also taken to reduce the waiting time of patients, who often have to keep waiting due to a shortage of beds in the emergency ward. 

Talking about the current project, senior administrative officials of AIIMS said that they are in discussion with the NDMC regarding the acquirement of an under-construction hospital near Shanti Path. The extended facility would be reportedly managed by AIIMS as an extended care facility for non-emergency patients. 

A meeting was held on 21st February between AIIMS director Dr M Srinivas and NDMC secretary Dr Ankita Chakravarty to discuss the matter. 

Speaking to Hindustan Times, a senior official of AIIMS said, "We have had a few rounds of meetings with NDMC officials to discuss the terms of how the facility will be managed and what support the council will be able to provide us with. We have been assured that hopefully in a year, we will be able to open this facility for the public." 

According to the official, the extended facility of AIIMS would be used to admit patients who are not critically ill. They have not taken a decision regarding the terms of staffing and resources. 

Confirming the partnership, NDMC officials stated that the newly planned 'state-of-the-art multispeciality hospital' was earlier a veterinary hospital, staff quarters and a school, which has now been shifted to a new place. 

Appreciating the move, the doctors at the institute said that this would be advantageous for the patients as they would not have to stand in long queues to get admitted. 

The institute caters to around 10000 patients from across the country on a daily basis, and it suffers due to a major shortage of beds. For instance, a 74-year-old woman allegedly had to wait for almost 5 hours to get a bed and her family members said that no one attended her for hours due to lack of space which caused her lungs to collapse. 

AIIMS officials stated that they are planning to initiate similar arrangements with the Delhi government. They are reportedly in talks to acquire a 200-bed Delhi government hospital in Burari and NDMC’s Charak Palika Hospital. An AIIMS official said, "These plans are in a nascent stage. The complete plan will be shared once there is clarity."

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