GUEST COLUMN
Dr BKS Sanjay
Health, education and nutrition are the basic pillars of development of any individual. The current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leaving no stone unturned to provide these to all citizen. The network of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is a step in this direction which is bridging regional gaps in healthcare and medical education.
AIIMS, New Delhi was established in 1956 under the AIIMS Act, 1956 with the aim of developing high standards in medical education, research and patient care in India. It was envisioned as a model institution to produce world-class medical teachers and healthcare professionals, setting benchmarks in the field. Later, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh was established in 1964 on a similar concept through an Act of Parliament. Both institutes are recognised as Institutes of National Importance and function as autonomous bodies under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Till 2003, AIIMS New Delhi and PGI Chandigarh were the only such premier institutions. However, due to growing demand and a noticeable regional imbalance in access to tertiary healthcare, the Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). This initiative, announced in 2003 and officially launched in 2006, aimed to make high-quality tertiary healthcare accessible across the country at affordable costs. Under PMSSY, six new AIIMS were established in different regions of India. These institutes became operational by 2012 through an ordinance, which also empowered the government to create additional AIIMS-like institutions via gazette notifications, giving them equal status to AIIMS, New Delhi.
As the number of institutes increased, managing them directly under the Health Minister became impractical. Amendments to the AIIMS Act allowed for the appointment of presidents and executive directors at each institute to ensure smooth and hassle-free efficient administration. Currently, 20 AIIMS are fully operational, with five under construction, reflecting the vision and continued commitment of PM Modi to expanding access to quality medical education and tertiary healthcare across India.
Despite progress, challenges persist, especially with regional disparities in medical education and healthcare access. To address this, the government is taking focused steps by appointing experienced medical professionals to leadership roles and expanding institutions like AIIMS to underserved regions. Each AIIMS is governed through statutory bodies such as the institute body, governing body, executive council and standing committees. The president serves as the liaison between the institute and the Health Ministry.
Health Minister JP Nadda has recently nominated the author as president of AIIMS Guwahati. Key administrative functions are managed by officials including the medical superintendent, deputy directors, financial advisors and the executive director, who oversees daily operations. Admissions to the MBBS programme at AIIMS are conducted through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and PG by INI-CET entrance. In line with the Government of India’s equity goals, AIIMS follows reservation policies for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwD categories, ensuring broader access to highquality medical education.
In addition to MBBS, AIIMS offers a wide array of academic programs including MD/MS, DM/MCh super-specialties, PhD programmes, and both undergraduate and postgraduate nursing courses. The institution follows a Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) model that aligns with international standards in clinical training and ethical practice. As a model healthcare institution, AIIMS must set a standard that is consistently better than other healthcare services in every aspect—whether it is clinical care, research output, teaching methods, or patient satisfaction. Every department should function with efficiency, innovation and compassion, ensuring that patients receive the best possible treatment irrespective of their background or financial condition.
Faculty members and institutional experts contribute directly to shaping national healthcare policies, treatment protocols, and public health initiatives, making AIIMS not just a centre of treatment, but a think tank for the nation’s health strategy. AIIMS can also serve as a national emergency and disaster response hub, as their trauma centre services are one of the most advanced services in India.
AIIMS New Delhi had played a central role during major public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda during the video conference with all AIIMS presidents held on August 22 appealed to all authorities concerned and key figures to establish and strengthen AIIMS as a brand. A brand represents the name of a product or service provided by a particular company or organisation. It is a distinctive feature that identifies and differentiates the products and services of an institution.
The goal of every organisation should be to achieve a recognised and respected standing in society. To sustain any brand in the market, it must be built on the quality of its products or services. A brand endures only when people have faith and trust in it—whether before buying a product or availing a service. Human resource is the greatest resource on planet earth. Everyone should strive to develop this resource with each other, by each other and for each other.
To uphold its reputation, AIIMS must recruit and retain faculty and staff that are not only highly educated and skilled but also polite, hardworking and respectful. Every employee, from group D to senior professors and administrators, must reflect the dignity and values of the institution and consider contributing a lot more than others in nation building. Proper dress, professional conduct and decent behaviour are essential, as appearance and attitude greatly influence the trust and comfort of patients.
A kind word, a respectful gesture, or a reassuring tone can be as healing as medical treatment itself. In fact, the author believes, a trio of behaviour, knowledge and skill is the secret of success of every individual and in every profession but it is more so in the health care sector which deals with the humans. In general, we choose a professional for his or her knowledge and skill, but in reality, we choose his or her behaviour.
In fact, it is the perception about the professional along with his behaviour that acts as subliminal advertisement for his knowledge and skill. Behaviour plays an important role in shaping not only our own life but others’ lives too. Importance of behaviour comes first, followed by knowledge and skill in any action. Knowledge and skill of any person can be transferred with good behaviour. Therefore, AIIMS must prioritise both excellence in service and in human behaviour, making it a true role model for all healthcare institutions in India and beyond.
(A Padma Shri awardee orthopaedic surgeon, the author is also the president of AIIMS, Guwahati. Views expressed are personal)
