Question : Waiting period in AIIMS

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the patients suffering from serious diseases have to wait for years to get surgery date in AIIMS, Delhi and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government proposes to provide tatkal (emergency) surgery facility in case of fatal and serious diseases;

(c) if so, the details of reformative/ remedial step being taken by the Government in this regard, if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government proposes to conduct surgeries in two-three shifts in AIIMS with the assistance of other doctors so as to reduce the number of patients on waiting list; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): The number of patients coming to AIIMS, New Delhi for treatment/surgery is more than the beds available in the Institute. However, the waiting list of patients needing admission are prepared according to patients’ condition, urgency of treatment and bed availability on the particular day.

(b) to (e) The three emergencies under various centres of AIIMS, New Delhi which remain functional round the clock are: Trauma emergencies handled at Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre (JPNATC), Eye emergencies handled at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (Dr. R. P. Centre) and Medical Emergencies handled in main Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine. The Elective/scheduled surgeries are being performed at AIIMS for 12 hours in the main Operation Theatre Complex. Therefore, external augmentation of manpower would not resolve the limitation in the number of Operation Thearters and existing bed strength. To increase the bed strength from 2483 to 4231, various projects such as Surgical Block, NCI Jhajjar, Burns & Plastic Surgery etc. have been approved by the Government.