The central government is considering a major overhaul of clinical services at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, to reduce the immense burden on its existing infrastructure. A key element of this plan involves expanding AIIMS’ clinical services to multiple locations across the National Capital Region (NCR), allowing the premier institute to focus primarily on critical and trauma cases while improving access and reducing waiting times for other patients.
The proposal is currently under review by a high-level committee led by Dr. VK Paul, member of NITI Aayog. The committee is assessing existing systems at AIIMS Delhi and is expected to recommend sweeping reforms aimed at enhancing patient care and strengthening the institution’s role in advanced medical research.
According to a senior government official, this expansion could involve shifting outpatient department (OPD) services to underutilized or unutilized facilities in other government hospitals, and possibly even to private hospitals. The move is intended to decentralize routine consultations and treatment, enabling AIIMS to allocate more resources to handling complex cases and conducting research. AIIMS Delhi currently manages a daily load of approximately 7,200 outpatient visitors and 400–500 emergency patients, creating significant strain on both infrastructure and healthcare personnel.
A detailed blueprint is being developed, which will include a phased implementation plan and a set of policy interventions to be carried out in the short, medium, and long term. The committee is expected to submit its final report to the Ministry of Health in the second half of 2025.
Stakeholders involved in the consultations have emphasized that the success of this decentralization effort will depend heavily on strong oversight mechanisms. A senior medical practitioner noted that while expanding OPD services beyond the AIIMS campus could relieve pressure, it must be accompanied by strict monitoring to ensure consistent quality of care. Any deviation from AIIMS’ standards, the practitioner warned, could compromise patient outcomes and public trust in the healthcare system.
The committee continues to evaluate various aspects of the proposal, with the primary objective of maintaining high standards of medical care across all locations.