95% of 42 AIIMS Jammu buildings completed, around 58% faculty in place: ED AIIMS Jammu

Jammu, July 14: With 95 percent of its 42 buildings standing erect and completed and 57.37 percent of sanctioned faculty at present in place, All India institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu has already embarked on its journey to transform the healthcare landscape in J&K.

Assertion comes from the Executive Director (ED) and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) AIIMS Jammu Prof (Dr) Shakti Kumar Gupta, while sharing with Greater Kashmir, the progress and updated status of one of the premier projects underway in the Union Territory.

Words carry weightage as the project has attained its enviable status within five years of it getting cabinet approval.

Its swift execution and near-total fruition in five years, induces unintentional (and in cases, may appear to be unfair) comparison with other development projects undergoing in J&K, several of them jumping many deadlines, resulting in cost overrun worth thousands of crores.

Even in the case of appraisal of “tale of two AIIMS in J&K”, it has taken a significant lead over its counterpart in Awantipora, though both shared the same year of start of construction i.e., 2019.

Hiccups did occur in the course of its journey to reach its present status too during the past five years but mainly on account of reasons beyond control including COVID pandemic.

However, Prof Shakti Kumar Gupta does not appreciate comparisons.

He prefers to focus on avowed mission to make AIIMS Jammu first as an ‘Institute of national Importance’ and then moving on to the ultimate objective to develop it as a “Global village” for healthcare, research, skill development and medical education.

He points out that in alignment with the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi (about AIIMS institutions), AIIMS Jammu has set “Trinity of Mission” for itself i.e., focus on Education, Research and Patient care.

“We aspire to showcase global standards through international collaborations, a modern digital library and specialized centres of excellence in Telemedicine, Trauma Sciences, Nursing, Cancer care, and more,” he asserts.

But, how is it going to happen and what is the present state of affairs? Questions come naturally and he gives an overview of the present state of affairs and things to come up.

WHAT ACHIEVED IN JOURNEY OF 5 YEARS SINCE INCEPTION

Giving an updated status about the developing future-ready premier health-care institute, AIIMS Jammu Executive Director and CEO informs, “95 percent work in case of 42 buildings has been completed. Work on all buildings actually simultaneously goes on. Presently, the furnishing process is underway. We have the most advanced equipment and facilities – some already installed, rest under process. We are already having X-Ray machines, MRI, CT Scan facilities functional. As already announced, our Out Patient Department (OPD) will be functional within a fortnight.”

Regarding faculty, he informed, “105 (faculty) against a sanctioned strength of 183 are already in place. We get faculty through a national level competition (test). Process is underway to fill vacancies.”

According to him, the 750-bedded hospital building is equipped with cutting-edge facilities such as MRI, CT Scan, Nuclear Medicine, 20 Modular OTs, ICU, Super Specialty departments, OPD, and Trauma Beds.

Major equipment to be available (or already available) in AIIMS Jammu include LINAC; bi-plane Cath lab with DSA; CT-256; CT-128; 3T-MRI; CT simulator and Brachytherapy.

OPD AND OTHER SERVICES

Prof Gupta points out that the OPD services, once started, are anticipated to handle an average of 2000-3000 patients per day, offering a spectrum of services.

“The AIIMS facility in Jammu, spread in a total area of 226.84 acres, will be a sanctuary for those battling cancer, offering dedicated care units in both Surgical and Medical Oncology departments. Moreover, it will extend its healing touch to a multitude of medical domains, with 193 ICU beds spread across various specialties. Sufficient beds will be allocated for General Medicine, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Specialized care in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS), Neurology, and Neurosurgery will also be available. The comprehensive offerings of this facility will extend further to include a Nephrology, Kidney transplant, Urology unit, dialysis unit, a 12-bedded Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit,” he informs.

REVOLUTIONARY SALIENT FEATURES OF HEALTHCARE

Highlighting certain unique salient features of AIIMS Jammu, Prof Gupta mainly focuses on recently introduced “Digital library”, “Indoor Patient Navigation System” etc.

“The Indoor Patient Navigation System at AIIMS Jammu offers real-time location tracking on user-friendly maps, ensuring patients reach their appointments without getting lost. It provides voice-guided navigation for visually impaired individuals and calculates the most efficient routes, considering stairs and elevators, to aid patients with mobility limitations,” he explains.

According to him, the system also gives detailed directions to departments, wards, and facilities. The Indoor Navigation System supports both, Android and iOS smartphones, ensuring accessibility for all.

“In short, “Indoor Navigation system”, developed in collaboration with IIT Delhi, functions like GPS for indoor environments. The system uses mobile apps, internet connectivity, Bluetooth, and strategically placed beacons to provide precise location tracking and real-time navigation assistance throughout the hospital,” he adds.

He asserts that besides these steps, implementing key systems like the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) and the Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) with the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) will also revolutionise patient care in the Institute and streamline medical services through advanced digital solutions.

He points out that the institution aims to cater to patients from various schemes such as PM-JAY (Ayushman Bharat Yojana), ABDM, ECHS, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram and Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi.

INTAKE CAPACITY

Giving a brief account of the institution’s current intake capacity, Dr Gupta informs, “With an annual intake of 100 students for its MBBS programme (and 60 students for Nursing), our first batch of MBBS comprised 50 students; second, third and fourth batch comprised 61, 61 and 62 students respectively. Fifth batch beginning from August this year will have 100 students.”

KEY FEATURES OF AIIMS JAMMU

Key features of the North Campus comprise a two-storey “Aayush Block” with 30 beds, a convention centre, an academic building accommodating Hospital Block, Convention centre, a Medical College for 100 students annually, and a Nursing College for 60 students yearly and a night shelter for 216 attendants. The South Campus includes multi-storied staff housing, a Director's Bungalow, UG/PG hostels, a Sports Club, Cricket Stadium, Basketball and Lawn Tennis Courts, Squash Court, surface parking for 3284 cars, a Guest House for 26 guests and connectivity between campuses through one motorable and two pedestrian underpasses.

TOTAL PROJECT COST

Total project cost as per its master plan was Rs 1661 Cr, which included Rs 1452 Cr for construction of the hospital building and other infrastructure as per DPR submitted by CPWD; Rs 187 Cr for medical equipment by HITES and Rs 22 Cr for non-medical furniture etc.

WHAT UNION HEALTH MINISTER SAID ABOUT FACULTY VACANCIES
IN AIIMS JAMMU
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers J P Nadda, during his visit to AIIMS, Jammu on July 7, 2024, had stated that
the steps were underway for staff recruitment.
“Faculty recruitment is going on at a very fast pace. India’s best faculty, professionals are being deployed, have been deployed and will be deployed
here. We have to grow faculty and departments. It may take time. Its faculty, infrastructure, equipment, appliances and logistics meet international
standards. There will be no compromise with quality in case of AIIMS,” Nadda said.
“I’ll ask media persons not to draw parallels between AIIMS and other hospitals while quoting statistics vis-a-vis sanctioned strength (of faculty) and
vacancies. It takes at least 10 years for quality medical institutions like AIIMS to develop and grow. They cannot be developed overnight. For example,
AIIMS in Delhi could acquire its envious status in healthcare facilities 30 years after its construction,” he stated.
The Union Minister had also announced that OPD in AIIMS Jammu, inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
“would, within a fortnight, start (functioning), shortly.”

‘PROJECT AIIMS JAMMU’ TIMELINE
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu, in the picturesque landscape of Vijaypur in Samba district of Jammu region, is part of a
development package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. It was initiated under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana
(PMSSY).
Date of conception: November 7, 2015.
Date of cabinet approval: January 1, 2019
Foundation stone of the hospital, proposed to have 50 departments, 18 super-specialities, laid by PM Narendra Modi: February 3, 2019.
Administrative Approval & Expenditure Sanction (A/A & E/S) received by CPWD: March 8, 2019
‘Bhoomi Poojan’ ceremony in presence of Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State and other dignitaries: February, 2020
Inauguration by PM Narendra Modi: February 20, 2024