Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda presided over the 3rd Foundation Day celebrations of AIIMS Bilaspur on Friday, highlighting the institute’s rapid growth into a premier healthcare and medical education hub within just three years of its establishment.
He was joined by Union Minister Anurag Thakur, Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Mahajan, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, and State Health Minister Col. Dr. Dhani Ram Shandil, along with other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Nadda said, “With state-of-the-art facilities such as advanced MRI, CT and PET-CT scanners, endoscopy and bronchoscopy suites, AIIMS Bilaspur has made remarkable progress in a short span. The fact that people from neighbouring states are seeking treatment here reflects the growing trust in this institute.”
Nadda underscored the institution’s achievements in nuclear medicine, cancer care, and kidney transplants, noting that AIIMS Bilaspur has reduced the out-of-pocket expenditure for patients who earlier had to travel to PGI Chandigarh for advanced care. The hospital currently has over 734 operational beds and has successfully performed eight kidney transplants, with facilities for corneal transplants to be commissioned soon.
He announced a 500-bed Vishram Sadan to support patients from distant areas, along with Rs. 165 crore for staff housing and student hostels, and Rs. 5 crore for an indoor stadium under the Khelo India initiative.
The Union Health Minister said 127 new posts, including 29 faculty and 98 non-faculty positions, have been sanctioned for AIIMS Bilaspur, with a dedicated selection committee to ensure timely recruitment. He also highlighted a national initiative to foster collaboration between AIIMS institutes through short-term exchange programs, strengthening both faculty and student exposure.
On the broader landscape of medical education, Nadda noted that the number of medical colleges in India has grown to 808, with UG seats rising from 35,000 to 1.25 lakh in the last decade. He added that 5,000 new UG and PG seats have recently been approved and projected that 75,000 more will be added in the next five years.
Calling for AIIMS Bilaspur to uphold the brand’s legacy of excellence, Nadda said a team in collaboration with NITI Aayog and the Indian Institute of Public Administration is preparing a roadmap for all AIIMS institutes to strengthen departmental growth and sustainability.
Upcoming projects at AIIMS Bilaspur include a bone marrow transplant centre, an advanced autopsy block, a trauma and critical care centre, a robotic surgery unit, and drone-based healthcare logistics. Infrastructure expansion will also add multilevel parking, residential facilities, and a school for staff families.
The institute’s Kulgeet was officially released during the event, symbolising the ethos of AIIMS Bilaspur. Meritorious students were felicitated for their academic and extracurricular achievements by the Union Minister.
Established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, AIIMS Bilaspur was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2022. Guided by the motto “Sarve Santu Niramaya” (may all be free from disease), the institute has quickly emerged as a regional centre of excellence for advanced healthcare, education, and research, catering not only to Himachal Pradesh but also neighbouring states.