Rohit Kapoor
All-India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi was established as an Institution of National importance by an Act of Parliament with the objects to develop patterns of teaching in Undergraduate and Post-graduate Medical Education in all its branches so as to demonstrate a high standard of Medical Education in India; to bring together in one place educational facilities of the highest order for the training of personnel in all important branches of health activity; and to attain self-sufficiency in Post-graduate Medical Education.
In an effort to correct the imbalance in availability of affordable healthcare, six AIIMS-like medical institutes were announced for Patna, Bhopal, Raipur, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur and Rishikesh. And according to the financial memorandum, an estimated cost of Rupees 4,920 Rupees and 820 crores per AIIMS was approved.
All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2012, replaced an Ordinance which allowed the six AIIMS-like institutes to become operational.
The amended provision reads as under:
In section 3 of the principal Act, – (a) in sub-section (1), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: – “Provided that the Central Government may, on and after the commencement of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Act, 2012, establish by notification in the Official Gazette, such other All-India Institutes of Medical Sciences at such places as it may specify in the said notification in addition to the existing Institute and the corresponding Institutes.”;
(b) in sub-section (2), for the words “The Institute”, the words “Every Institute” shall be substituted.
The Law also conferred powers upon the Centre to establish AIIMS-like institutions by notification in the official gazette. In June-end 2014, the Union Health Ministry had sent out letters to all State Governments to identify lands to set up an AIIMS. The proposal to set up AIIMS in each state was launched under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana’ in March 2006.
Pressing the Tamil Nadu’s case for being chosen as a place for setting up a State-level ‘All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)’ in the year itself, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa stated the locales identified were suitably connected by road, rail and air. Availability of sufficient water and electricity facilities in all the five places was an added advantage, she said.
In the last week of June 2015, Union health and family welfare minister Sh. J P Nadda reiterated the Central government’s commitment to open second AIIMS in Bihar to provide better healthcare system in the State. BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain has urged Health Minister to consider Bhagalpur for establishing AIIMS due to its strategic location and has a reach to vast population in need of Medicare at affordable cost. The civil society along with business and trade organizations besides people’s representatives in the district had demanded a state-of-the-art medical college-cum-hospital like AIIMS in Bhagalpur. Similar is the demand from Jammu region for better medical facility, which is in conformity with fundamental right (Article 21) guaranteed by the Constitution of India to all its citizens.
From the above quoted law and the facts including reference to Tamil Nadu and Bihar, it can be construed that:
i. Amendment carried out in AIIMS Act in year 2012 now permits Government of India to establish by notification in the Official Gazette, such other All-India Institutes of Medical Sciences at such places as it may specify in the said notification in addition to the existing Institutes.
ii. There is precedent to establish two AIIMS like Institutes in one State (Reference: Commitment of Union Health Minister for second AIIMS in Bihar, quoted above).
Strategic parameters for establishing AIIMS at Jammu for its locale include:
i. Accessibility to and fro Jammu with its direct connectivity by Road, Rail and Air with almost all parts of country.
ii. Frequency of these modes of travel several times a day and 365 days in a year.
iii. Having reach to vast population of neighboring States of Punjab, Haryana, Himacha Pradesh, Union Territory of Chandigarh which have on its borders States of Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
iv. Northern Command Head Quarter of Indian Army.
Besides its own requirements in Medicare, having reach to vast population of neighboring States,Jammu for its locationmeets strategic parameter for having AIIMS.
And a time has come for all the political parties and people of the State to ensure implementation of the commitment to establishAll India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS)in Jammu and its announcement on or before 20-07-2015. And for some apprehensions expressed, suffice it to say in the words of Sir Robert Borden, former Canadian Prime Minister(A lawyer from Canadian Bar Association- turned politician);
“We must not forget that days may come when our patience, our endurance and our fortitude will be tried to the utmost. In those days, let us see to it that no heart grows faint and that no courage be found wanting.”
(The author is an advocate)
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