Srinagar, Jul 31 (KNO): The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jammu, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few months ago, is set to begin its Out Patient Department (OPD) services tomorrow.
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of AIIMS Jammu, Dr Shakti Gupta informed the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the institute aims to fully operationalise in the coming months, with emergency services expected to start soon.
Dr Gupta said the OPD services have already been running on a trial basis, which allowed the administration to identify areas for improvement in patient care. Currently, the hospital sees around 300 patients daily, and this number is expected to increase to around 3000 per day with the formal commencement of OPD services, he informed.
Following the launch of OPD services, the hospital will focus on inpatient department (IPD) services, elective surgeries and other specialities, the Executive Director said. "Given the scale and prestige of this institute, which serves Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and parts of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, the hospital has imported equipment from the USA, Germany, and other countries to provide unparalleled healthcare facilities," he said.
Officials said that AIIMS Jammu is also detailing appointment procedures, available radiodiagnostic services, and operational aspects of a 24x7 diagnostic lab. The lab is equipped with the most advanced 3-Tesla MRI, 128-slice CT, and digital X-ray services, designed to enhance convenience and efficiency for the community, ensuring timely and accurate diagnostics and treatment.
They said the institute has already hired staff, and further recruitment and facility enhancements are underway. All necessary security arrangements have been made on the advice of the Home Ministry. AIIMS Jammu will eventually open approximately 50 departments, including 30 general and 20 super specialities, they added.
Currently, AIIMS Jammu offers an MBBS program lasting 5 years and 6 months, with a total seat capacity of 62, which will increase to 100 once the institute is fully operational.
The AIIMS Jammu Nursing College has admitted 60 candidates for BSc Nursing. The institute also offers 45 Postgraduate seats across Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, with Super Specialisation courses (DM/MCh) expected to commence in January 2025.
Officials said that 500 nurses from various states and Union Territories, including Jammu & Kashmir, have undergone specialised training at AIIMS Delhi before joining AIIMS Jammu. "The super-speciality hospital will have 750 beds, including 46 trauma and emergency beds, 193 ICU beds, 20 operation theatres, a helipad, and a 1,000-seat auditorium. It will also feature MRI, CT and CATH labs equipped with state-of-the-art technology," they said.
The departments at AIIMS Jammu will include General Medicine, General Surgery, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CVTS), Neurology, Neurosurgery, Gastroenterology, Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Urology, Nephrology, Pediatric Surgery, Burn and Plastic Surgery, Nuclear Medicine, ENT, Dermatology, Dentistry, Community and Family Medicine (CFM), Anesthesiology, Anatomy, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pathology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, Radiology, and Pulmonary Medicine—(KNO)