No AIIMS for Amritsar yet, says MoS Health

New Delhi: The Central Government has ruled out the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Amritsar, Punjab, during the current phase of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), said Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a recent Lok Sabha session.

Under PMSSY, the Central Government has approved the establishment of 22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country. These premier institutions are designed to reduce regional imbalances in healthcare and medical education. Among them, AIIMS Bathinda in Punjab has already been established and is fully functional.

To further strengthen tertiary care in the State, the Government has upgraded existing medical institutions under PMSSY:

• Government Medical College, Amritsar

• Government Medical College, Patiala

Both institutions have been provided with Super Speciality Blocks (SSBs) under a Centre-State cost-sharing model.

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This information was shared by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, in response to questions posed by Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla, the MP from Amritsar. The Minister seeks to know whether the Government is aware that the border belt of Amritsar where war like situation can arise anytime lacks advanced, world-class healthcare facilities, forcing critical patients to travel long distances to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh or Delhi, incurring huge medical and lodging costs, if so, the details thereof;

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.