New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, celebrated its 69th Foundation Day today, marking nearly seven decades of excellence in medical education, research, and healthcare. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav, presided over the ceremony, highlighting AIIMS’ continuous achievements and its unwavering commitment to advancing global healthcare standards.
Speaking at the event, Jadhav praised AIIMS New Delhi for its remarkable milestones, particularly its consistent top-ranking position in India’s medical education landscape. “AIIMS has achieved outstanding success and remains determined to be one of the top-ranked medical institutions in the world,” he said, noting that AIIMS has held the number one spot in the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) for seven consecutive years.
AIIMS New Delhi has now become the National Resource Centre for the National Medical College Network (NMCN), linking over 100 medical colleges and supporting the development of undergraduate and postgraduate education. This initiative is bolstered by the National Learning Management & Information System, SAKSHYAM, which was launched last year to enhance medical education.
Jadhav also highlighted AIIMS’ growing role in healthcare innovation, noting the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. The centre, created in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), is pioneering AI-based tools for evaluating chest x-rays, detecting diabetic retinopathy, and identifying skin lesions, contributing significantly to national healthcare programs.
“AIIMS is set to become the largest robotic surgery skill training centre in the country, with state-of-the-art equipment dedicated to training surgeons,” the Minister added.
AIIMS’ extensive research efforts were also highlighted, with over 900 extramural research projects currently funded by national and international agencies, amounting to nearly Rs. 200 crores. The institute has also launched its Centre for Medical Innovation & Entrepreneurship as a bio-incubator under the BIRAC – BioNEST scheme, further promoting innovation in healthcare.
In his address, Jadhav also outlined upcoming infrastructure projects, including a new hostel complex with 2,200 rooms at an estimated cost of Rs. 900 crores, and the recent addition of academic facilities such as the Mother and Child Block, Surgery Block, and the National Centre of Ageing.
Prof. M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS New Delhi, emphasized the institute’s leadership in quality healthcare, with AIIMS receiving NABH certification for several of its blocks. He noted that the process of certifying all centres is ongoing, as is NABL accreditation for laboratories. “AIIMS has also played a key role in implementing the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, creating more than 7 lakh ABHA IDs and 20 lakh scan and share tokens,” he said.
During the event, Jadhav inaugurated several digital initiatives aimed at improving patient care and operational transparency. These include the SANTUSHT portal for patient grievances, real-time public dashboards, and a web application for managing emergency triage records. The Minister also inaugurated AIIMS’ first dedicated fire station, a pioneering safety measure for any medical institution in India.