No AIIMS for Amritsar yet, says MoS Health

He asked whether the Government proposes to establish an AIIMS hospital in Amritsar, considering its strategic border location with Pakistan and the urgent need for specialized trauma care, especially during emergencies and border conflicts, if so, the details thereof.

He also asked whether the Government has taken note that such a facility is likely to serve not only Punjab but also the adjoining regions of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, if so, the details thereof; and

He seeks to know whether the Government has any plan to allocate a special package for the speedy construction of AIIMS Amritsar under centrally sponsored schemes, if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor.

In response, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated that “Public Health and Sanitation, Hospitals and Dispensaries” is a State subject, and the primary responsibility of strengthening the medical infrastructure lies with the respective State Government.

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Under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), the setting up of 22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country has been approved, including AIIMS at Bathinda in Punjab, which is functional. Further, for strengthening and upgrading tertiary healthcare facilities in Punjab, under another component of PMSSY, upgradation of the following Government Medical Colleges has been completed by way of construction of Super Speciality Blocks (SSBs) on a Centre-State cost-sharing basis: (i) Government Medical College, Amritsar, and (ii) Government Medical College, Patiala. In the current phase of PMSSY, there is no proposal to establish a new AIIMS in Amritsar, Punjab, added the Minister.