NEW DELHI, Feb 20: Health Minister J P Nadda on Friday asked newly established campuses of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to balance rapid expansion with quality, urging them to prioritise patient-centric care while strengthening teaching and research.
Addressing a leadership conclave of Presidents and Executive Directors of new AIIMS institutions in New Delhi, Nadda said the growing network must avoid letting scale dilute standards. With several AIIMS at varying stages of development, he called for structured collaboration and mutual support so that institutions can grow in a coordinated manner rather than in silos.
The Minister stressed the need to formalise patient feedback systems and take measurable steps to improve patient satisfaction. He urged the institutions to work towards global benchmarks in medical education and clinical care, while preserving what he described as the “institutional ethos” associated with the AIIMS.
Highlighting governance norms, Nadda reiterated that Presidents represent the Ministry and provide oversight, while Executive Directors are responsible for day-to-day administration, a distinction he said must be respected to ensure accountability and efficient management. He also called for greater transparency and objectivity in decision-making.
On technology adoption, the Minister pushed for integrating artificial intelligence into diagnostics and clinical decision-making, and for institutionalising telemedicine services. He also underlined the importance of outreach programmes to strengthen AIIMS’ public health role.
Faculty shortages figured prominently in his remarks. Nadda asked institutes to accelerate recruitment without compromising standards, suggesting multiple interview cycles each year. He noted that common recruitment mechanisms for nursing and non-faculty staff should be conducted regularly to avoid delays.
The Minister further directed that affordable medicine outlets such as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana centres and AMRIT pharmacies be operational in every AIIMS campus.
He also called for deeper collaboration with institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), particularly in areas like rare diseases, genetic disorders and medical technology innovation. (UNI)
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