AIIMS Jammu to install GRC wall cladding technology to protect from harsh weather conditions

Jammu: In a bid to provide weather resistance to the premier health institution, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur in the Samba district of Jammu region has become the first hospital to be equipped with Glass Reinforced-Concrete (GRC) wall cladding technology.

The officials said that established in the kandi (dry) belt, the location is gripped with heat (in summer) and cold (in winter) due to extreme maximum and minimum temperatures.

“The Samba district is a Kandi belt, and keeping all aspects in mind for the next 30 to 40 years, GRC cladding technology has been installed on the external walls of the AIIMS building,” Dr Shakti Gupta, Director, Jammu AIIMS, told UNI.

Specifying the importance of the technology, Dr Gupta, who is also Chief Executive Officer of Jammu AIIMS, further said, “Although all the buildings are centrally air-conditioned, the tiling installation will act as an insulator to maintain the temperature (maximum and minimum) inside the structures in harsh winter and summer seasons.”

Notably, the maximum temperature in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts is recorded 43 to 45 degrees in the summer, and the minimum is up to 3 to 4 degrees in the winter.

“The GRC cladding system will provide relief not only to the medical staff but also to patients and attendants,” the CEO said, adding that the durability of the tiles is long-lasting and they are also dust- and water-resistant.

“The cladding system provides thermal insulation and weather resistance while enhancing the strength of the building. This will help in maintaining a normal environment inside the structure during extreme summer or winter, which will have a direct impact on medical care,” he added.

“Nearly 90 percent of the work is completed, and the remaining is expected to be completed by the end of this month,” he said, adding that the GRC cladding system is not used in any of the AIIMS in the country.

On starting the Outpatient Department (OPD) facility, Dr Gupta said, “The exercise is in progress, and very soon, all the departments will be fully operational.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated AIIMS Jammu during his Jammu visit on February 20.

“After the commissioning of AIIMS Jammu, people of Jammu will no longer have to leave for Delhi to avail specialised medical treatment, which will help them save valuable time and resources,” said Dr Gupta.

AIIMS Jammu, an Institute of National Importance, is a premier state-of-the-art, reliable, high-quality referral centre for tertiary healthcare established under the auspices of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) to address regional healthcare imbalances, encourage evidence-based research, and elevate medical education standards in the country.

The hospital is set to offer comprehensive medical services, with an expected daily footfall of 2000–3000 patients in the outpatient department.

Phase 1 will see the establishment of 750 beds, including 193 ICU beds catering to trauma care, general care, and super-specialties.

AIIMS Jammu will have an annual intake of 100 students for its MBBS programme and 60 students for rsing. It will also introduce Post-Graduate programmes in Medical, Dental (MD/MS/MDS), Nursing, superspecialization programmes (DM/MCh), Doctorate (PhD) degrees, and more in the future.

AIIMS Jammu is actively establishing "Centres of Excellence" across various domains like Telemedicine, Trauma Sciences, Nursing, Comprehensive Cancer Care, and advanced Studies in hospital administration, aiming for success and significance in healthcare and education.