AIIMS Jammu OPD to start within fortnight: J P Nadda

Jammu, July 7: Bharatiya Janata Party national president and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers J P Nadda Sunday assured that the Out Patient Department (OPD) in AIIMS Jammu would start within a fortnight.

“For friends in the media, I want to announce that the OPD in AIIMS Jammu, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would, within a fortnight, start (functioning), shortly. Steps are underway for staff recruitment. India’s best faculties are being deployed and will be deployed. We have to grow faculty and departments. It may take time. But there will be no compromise with quality in case of AIIMS,” he said.

He stated this while addressing an event at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur of Samba district of Jammu region.

“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 time to develop quality medical institutions like AIIMS. They cannot be developed overnight. For example, AIIMS in Delhi could acquire its present envious status in healthcare facilities after 30 years of its construction,” he said.

Nadda lauded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary policy to develop quality healthcare facilities across the country. “It is easier said than done. I’ve never seen a leader but Prime Minister Modi sanctioning Rs 1500-1600 Cr in one go for developing a medical institution like this (AIIMS), with a single stroke of pen and that too, not just once but 22 times,” he said.

VISIT TO SHRI RAGHUNATH TEMPLE

Earlier Nadda, who reached Jammu on Saturday to participate and address on the second day J&K BJP’s two-day executive committee meeting, started his day by visiting Shri Raghunath temple. Accompanied by senior party leaders including BJP national general secretary and in-charge J&K Tarun Chugh; party MPs Dr Jitendra Singh, Jugal Kishore Sharma, J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, Nadda paid obeisance there.

EXHORTS PARTY LEADERS TO IDENTIFY WEAKNESSES, SHORE-UP STRENGTHS

Later, he chaired a meeting of former legislators and other senior leaders of the party and asked them to immerse themselves wholeheartedly in preparation for upcoming assembly polls.

Official sources stated that the party president, in a reiteration of national leadership’s earlier commands, exhorted J&K (BJP) leaders to work in unison to ensure BJP’s own government in the Union Territory (UT) after assembly elections.

He directed them to be in ready mode for assembly polls, focus on organisational expansion and iron out all issues, impeding its growth.

“Reach out to masses with organisation and government’s welfare policies delivered on ground in the past ten years or so; work on grey areas and the party’s vulnerabilities revealed during parliamentary elections to ensure blooming of lotus in politically uncharted areas as well in J&K,” he reiterated.

Nadda asked them to shore-up strengths to achieve the mission (50 Plus), the party set up for it for ensuing assembly polls.

Chugh, Dr Jitendra, Jugal and Raina too were present there.

VISIT TO AIIMS, JAMMU

His third engagement of the day was to a visit to AIIMS, Jammu.

While addressing the event at AIIMS (Vijaypur) Jammu,  Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare said, “It is important to foster collaborative synergy among various branches of medical sciences. Both allopathy and Ayurveda possess distinct significance and strengths, complementing each other to enhance healthcare outcomes.”

“There was a time when doctors used to leave India due to a lack of facilities and education. However, today, we have 22 AIIMS, offering world-class facilities and infrastructure, transforming our healthcare landscape. Indian doctors have made their mark worldwide with their excellence and professionalism. The healthcare systems in the West heavily rely on Indian doctors. We appreciate our doctors' unwavering commitment to their service to the nation,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Nadda said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, not just health, but every sector has experienced immense growth. PM Modi has brought a new wave of comprehensive development into Jammu & Kashmir, advancing the state towards prosperity and growth.”

He remarked, “AIIMS Jammu is an institution that embodies the aspirations and dreams of countless individuals. It’s a beacon of hope not only for the people of J&K, but also for that of Leh, and other neighbouring states like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.” He assured all the possible help and support to the institution in ensuring better healthcare access for millions. He emphasized that skill and talent should never be compromised and exalted the faculty to work tirelessly to develop an “AIIMS culture which is an amalgam of selflessness, dedication, competency, integrity, innovation and trust.”

The Union Minister along with other dignitaries visited various facilities including the Digital Library with e-books, e-journals apart from hard copies of books and professional journals. The distinguished features showcased at the library included carrels for research work, state-of-the-art digital dashboard, automated book issue and deposit device and the RFID security gate at the entrance of the Digital Library.

Nadda also visited the modern Lecture Theatres for students with state-of-the-art Smart Boards, special features of which were demonstrated to the dignitaries. He expressed his happiness that AIIMS Jammu was incorporating technology advancements in pedagogy at AIIMS Jammu.

The Minister also inspected the Outpatient Department (OPD), including the registration counters and “Indoor Navigation System” for patients.

Dr Jitendra, Jugal, MP Rajya Sabha Gulam Ali Khatana were also present on the occasion.

Following his visit to AIIMS at Vijaypur in Jammu, Nadda posted on ‘X’, “... During my visit, I observed the world-class facilities and services available to the people of Jammu & Kashmir. With its skilled doctors and aspiring medical professionals, AIIMS Vijaypur is set to enhance healthcare facilities in the region. Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri@narendramodi ji, not just health, but every sector has experienced immense growth. Modi ji has brought a new wave of comprehensive development into Jammu & Kashmir, advancing the state towards prosperity and growth.”

Before leaving for the union capital in the evening, he also visited the residence of party’s senior leader and former minister Chander Prakash Ganga in Vijaypur.