On 10^th August 2024, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Government of India, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, visited AIIMS Rajkot at Para Pipaliya, to carry out a holistic review of AIIMS Rajkot along with the inauguration of the Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL).

Executive Director, Dr. Prof. (Col) CDS Katoch, Col. Dr. Ajit Kumar, Deputy Director Admin and Col. Surender Kumar, VSM, Financial Advisor, welcomed Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers of India.

Hon’ble Minister was given a brief presentation about the latest progress of the ongoing project works at AIIMS Rajkot and various milestones achieved by the institute, by the Executive Director, Prof. Dr. (Col.) CDS Katoch, in the presence of all the dignitaries. During the presentation following recent achievements of the Institute were highlighted :

• 250 bedded IPD facility inaugurated by Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji on 25.02.2024 and dedicated to the nation.
• Four batches of MBBS are currently studying.
• PG Courses in 10 specialties are going on since January 2024.
• Super specialties course in Pulmonary Medicine since July 2024.
• Artificial Intelligence Module in Healthcare is implemented in UG and PG Courses.
• VRDL & BSL-3 Laboratory was sanctioned from ICMR.
• AYUSH Integrated with Telemedicine (e-Sanjeevani)
• HMIS System/ ABHA ID/ E-Swasthya App/ Scan & Share are opted for QUEUE management system.
• Extra mural & Intra Mural research projects are ongoing & underway. .
• More than 370 surgeries including Total Knee and Hip replacement surgeries performed till date since inauguration.
• MRI & Digital X-Ray are functional and installation of CT scan is underway
• Fellowship in Virology & Infectious disease started
• Mortuary services are made functional.
• Nursing College & School of Public Health are in planning and shall start from next year.

A brief discussion about the current issues/hurdles being faced was also undertaken by the Hon’ble Minister post the presentation, with all the stakeholders The Hon’ble Minister appreciated the work in progress and instructed the HSCC to complete the work at a FastTrack pace so that the 750 bedded facility could be started at the earliest.

Subsequently, the Hon’ble Minister and all the dignitaries were taken around the campus. He first visited hospital OPD and IPD building and took a note of all the services being catered to the patients. He visited the Radiology section, Laboratory complex and OT complex.

All the guests then proceeded for the inauguration of VRDL laboratory which is a State-of-the-Art facility for promoting research and diagnosis of various viral diseases like Dengue, Chikangunya, COVID, Japanese Enchephalitis, Influenza etc.

Hon’ble Minister then proceeded to address the faculty, students, Nursing officers and staff of AIIMS Rajkot where he appreciated the hard work and efforts of all the stake-holders in development and growth of the institute. He also applauded the services and facilities being provided by the institute for the betterment of patients and promotion of ‘Health For All’. He was very impressed with the academic and research activities being done in the institute. The state-of-the-art and modernistic equipment that is being utilized here for the purpose of providing best patient care was also praised by him. He gave his best wishes and motivated the team AIIMS Rajkot to continue their efforts in the growth and advancement of the institute. Hon’ble minister appreciated the role played by AIIMS Rajkot during the COVID Pandemic by starting the facilities of OPD, IPD and PG courses to serve the citizens of nation. He also said that AIIMS is a brand and all the doctors are the brand ambassadors of the same. He also insisted that the doctors should focus on being a good communicator and should convey their good work to the public. He discouraged the trend of ‘Brain Drain’ especially on the grounds of lack of medical facilities for the doctors which he said that the current government is committed to provide all necessary facilities. He gave some valuable suggestions as the way forward for the institute and shared his vision for promotion of integrative medicine as the mainstay of new treatment modalities. He suggested that AIIMS Rajkot should identify and earmark the enthusiastic and willing candidates for sending them to AIIMS Delhi for exploring new possibilities and learning from them especially in Integrative Medicine. He appreciated the progress of AIIMS Rajkot in all aspects despite facing many hurdles that the institute overcame in a very short time.

He also instructed to construct a Night Shelter building for the attendants of the patients through CSR through an appropriate agency in addition to the already existing Night Shelter.

Hon’ble Minister and the dignitaries were seen off by the Executive Director and DDA with a gesture of gratitude.

AP/GP/JD

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