Jammu: Established under the auspices of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), AIIMS Jammu, inaugurated today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would address regional healthcare imbalances, encourage evidence-based research and elevate medical education standards in the country.
It will have an annual intake of 100 students for its MBBS programme and 60 students for Nursing. It will also introduce Post-Graduate programmes in Medical, Dental (MD/MS/MDS), Nursing, Super Specialization programmes (DM/MCh), Doctorate (PhD) degrees, and more in the future.
With 54% of its faculty and nearly 78%-80% of Nursing Officers being women, the hospital prioritizes women’s empowerment through equal opportunities, supportive work environments, and gender-sensitive policies. It offers tailored training programmes for women leadership to exemplify its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
While inaugurating the AIIMS Jammu, here today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed that the number of medical colleges increased from 4 to 12, MBBS seats more than doubled from 500 to 1300, and postgraduate medical seats from none to 650 in Jammu & Kashmir in the last ten years.
“After the commissioning of AIIMS-Jammu [All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jammu], people of Jammu will no longer have to leave for Delhi to avail specialized medical treatment,” Modi said. He also pointed out that 15 new AIIMS were added in the last 10 years, including two in J&K.
Sprawled across 226.84 acres along National Highway 44 in Vijaypur in Jammu, the hospital is an institute of national importance. It would be a premier state-of-the-art reliable high-quality referral centre for tertiary healthcare.
The hospital is set to offer comprehensive medical services, with an expected daily footfall of 2000-3000 patients in the outpatient department. Phase 1 will see the establishment of 750 beds, including 193 ICU beds catering to trauma care, general care, and super-specialties.
It plans to encompass approximately 50 departments, encompassing both general and specialized care. Advanced facilities like Nuclear Medicine, 20 Modular OTs, MRI, and CT Scan, operating round the clock, will ensure that humane and continuous care is readily available. Additionally, AIIMS Jammu’s dedicated two-storey “Aayush Block” with 30 beds alongside other facilities and partnerships, reflects a holistic healthcare approach merging traditional and modern medicine to enhance regional health outcomes.
AIIMS Jammu also has a helipad for swiftly transporting trauma patients in emergency care. Besides, it introduces a ground-breaking initiative, establishing a ‘Patient Centric Hospital’ featuring innovative amenities such as Patient Assistant Services, Indoor Navigation System, Patient Care Managers and coordinators, and Smart Payment Cards. The introduction of the Patient Navigation System promises to enhance accessibility for all patients, particularly benefiting differently-abled individuals, including those with visual impairment, by facilitating seamless navigation to their desired destinations within the facility.
AIIMS Jammu” envisions itself as a “Global Village” for healthcare, research, skill development and medical education, encouraging overseas Indian cardholders and non-resident Indians to participate in providing specialized healthcare services with cutting-edge technology, aiming for an integrated ‘One Campus’ answer for all investigative, operative, rehabilitative and vocational needs of the patients.
For seamless integration of the healthcare ecosystem, the hospital will be undergoing a transformative shift towards 100% digitalization in healthcare in 4 milestones within 1 year after commissioning. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) will replace traditional paper records. It has further established collaborations with premier institutes like IIT, IIM, IIIM, and others to create a responsive, adaptable, and globally connected healthcare ecosystem. It is actively establishing “Centres of Excellence” across various domains like Telemedicine, Trauma Sciences, Nursing, Comprehensive Cancer Care, and Advanced Studies in Hospital Administration, aiming for success and significance in healthcare and education. Its upcoming 24/7 modern digital library serves as a pivotal asset in advancing healthcare practices.
The hospital features one of India’s largest and most picturesque campuses. The campus prioritizes eco-friendliness, being developed for a 4-star Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA), with a solar panel system, sewage treatment plant, and planting of 13,500 trees and 5 lakh shrubs.
The key infrastructural features of AIIMS Jammu comprise a Convention Centre with a state-of-the-art projection system, an audio-visual system and a sitting capacity of 1000 people, a night shelter for 216 attendants, multi-storied staff housing, Undergraduate and Postgraduate hostels, a sports club, cricket stadium, basketball and lawn tennis courts, squash court, surface parking for 3284 cars, and a guest house for 26 guests. Notable “Value Additions” for enhancing the quality of life on campus include an amphitheatre, cycling track, soft music along the walking path, and more.
Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted the commitment of the Union Government for AIIMS Jammu whose foundation stone laying to inauguration took only 5 years.
Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor, Jammu & Kashmir; Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of India; and Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member of Parliament from Jammu, were present on the occasion along with senior officials of the Union Health Ministry, and the Government of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
– global bihari bureau
