NITI Aayog is preparing a roadmap to transform AIIMS Delhi’s operations, patient care and infrastructure to meet international healthcare standards.
A government-led committee headed by Dr. VK Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, is working on a proposal that could reshape the future of AIIMS Delhi. With rising patient volumes and infrastructure strain, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences is set to undergo a major transformation. The committee is tasked with drafting a detailed reform plan, backed by implementation timelines, to upgrade the institution’s systems and align them with global benchmarks.
According to an ET Report, at the heart of the proposal lies a plan to reduce patient load at AIIMS’ main campus by expanding its clinical services across the National Capital Region. This move would allow AIIMS to focus primarily on trauma care and complex medical cases, while routine outpatient services could be handled at satellite centers. Every day, AIIMS sees close to 7,200 patients in its outpatient department and about 500 in the emergency wing. The growing numbers have long outpaced its existing capacity, leading to delays and limited research opportunities for its medical faculty.
The committee is exploring ways to use existing infrastructure in underutilised government hospitals and even private facilities to host extended OPDs of AIIMS. This decentralised model, if implemented with strict oversight, could ease congestion and ensure more focused care across the region. Experts involved in stakeholder discussions believe that decentralisation will only succeed if supported by consistent quality control and transparent governance.
Beyond infrastructure, the committee’s mandate also includes evaluating internal processes, hospital governance and medical education. The outcome of this exercise will be presented to the health ministry later this year. The recommendations will span short, medium, and long-term changes, addressing both service delivery and institutional governance.
The government sees this reform as critical not just for AIIMS Delhi, but for setting a model of advanced tertiary care across India. By making space for research, training, and improved patient handling, the goal is to preserve AIIMS’ role as a leader in Indian public healthcare while preparing it for the demands of the future.
