As the network of All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) expands nationwide, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has urged institutes to adopt artificial intelligence in diagnostics while accelerating faculty recruitment.
Addressing a leadership conclave of Presidents and Executive Directors of newly established AIIMS, the Minister emphasised that technological advancement and human resource strengthening must progress simultaneously.
Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Telemedicine
As reported by TOI, Nadda called on AIIMS institutions to actively integrate artificial intelligence into diagnostics and clinical decision-making. In addition, he urged them to institutionalise telemedicine as a routine component of patient care.
By embedding AI-driven tools and digital health systems into everyday practice, he noted, AIIMS can enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline workflows, and improve patient outcomes across campuses.
Strengthening Human Resources to Match Infrastructure Growth
At the same time, the Minister stressed that expanding infrastructure alone is not sufficient. Institutes must strengthen human resources to maintain quality healthcare delivery and academic excellence.
He therefore called for faster faculty recruitment without compromising standards. To achieve this, he suggested conducting at least four interview cycles annually. Furthermore, he emphasised the regular implementation of structured recruitment mechanisms such as the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) and the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) for nursing and non-faculty positions to ensure timely appointments.
Addressing Critical Staffing Gaps
The Minister’s emphasis on recruitment comes amid significant staffing shortages. In a recent parliamentary reply, the government acknowledged that nearly one in three faculty posts across AIIMS remain vacant. Additionally, more than 17,000 non-faculty positions—including nurses, technicians, and support staff—are unfilled across 20 operational institutes.
These persistent vacancies have raised concerns about service delivery, particularly as patient loads continue to increase across facilities.
Balancing Patient Care, Teaching, and Research
Nadda reiterated that AIIMS must maintain a balanced focus on patient care, teaching, and research. He underscored the importance of anchoring this growth in a patient-centric model.
To strengthen accountability and responsiveness, he recommended implementing structured patient feedback systems, promoting greater transparency in decision-making, and fostering closer collaboration among AIIMS institutions at varying stages of development.
Expanding Access to Affordable Medicines and Research Collaboration
Moreover, the Minister directed that Jan Aushadhi Kendras and AMRIT pharmacies be made operational on every AIIMS campus. This step aims to improve access to affordable medicines for patients.
He also encouraged collaborative research initiatives with premier institutions, particularly in areas such as rare diseases, genetic disorders, and medical technology innovation.
Preserving Standards While Expanding Capacity
Finally, Nadda cautioned that increasing capacity must not dilute the high standards associated with AIIMS. He asserted that the institutes must continue to set national benchmarks in healthcare delivery and medical education while preserving their institutional ethos.
Through a combination of digital innovation, timely recruitment, and sustained academic excellence, AIIMS can strengthen its role as a pillar of India’s public healthcare system.