Niti Aayog Plans Major Revamp of AIIMS Delhi to Ease Patient Load & Expand Services

The plan includes a potential expansion of AIIMS’ clinical services to multiple locations across the National Capital Region (NCR), aimed at easing the overwhelming patient load.

A committee led by Niti Aayog member Dr. VK Paul examines existing systems at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, and is expected to propose major reforms.

The plan includes a potential expansion of AIIMS’ clinical services to multiple locations across the National Capital Region (NCR), aimed at easing the overwhelming patient load.

A senior government official said the move is intended to reduce strain on current infrastructure and allow doctors more bandwidth for medical research. “This will ensure the premier institute attends to only critical and trauma cases, as well as reduce the waiting time for other critical procedures,” the official noted.

AIIMS Delhi currently receives approximately 7,200 out-patient department (OPD) visitors daily, along with 400–500 emergency patients.

Blueprint to Include Timelines and Use of Existing Infrastructure

The committee is working on a blueprint that outlines recommended reforms and specific timelines for implementation. The report is expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Health in the second half of 2025, covering short-term, medium-term, and long-term policy interventions.

According to the official, the plan may involve leveraging the underutilized or unutilized infrastructure of existing government hospitals and possibly private hospitals to operate OPD services currently managed by AIIMS.

“All aspects are being considered to ensure quality of service and that medical care is not compromised. The committee will take a final decision,” the official added.

Stakeholders Emphasize Need for Strong Oversight

A medical practitioner involved in stakeholder consultations stated, “Patient load at the AIIMS needs to be reduced at all levels, while governance reforms need to be implemented to raise the institute's standards.”

“However, the idea of spreading OPDs outside of AIIMS will only succeed if there is a strict monitoring mechanism to ensure everyone in need of medical care or advice is catered as is done at AIIMS,” the practitioner added.

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