Guwahati, August 23: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Guwahati, the only premier institute of its kind in the Northeast, is gearing up to transform into a major healthcare destination not just for the region but also for neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, its newly appointed president Dr. BKS Sanjay has said.
Speaking a day after assuming charge, Dr. Sanjay, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon and Padma Shri awardee (2021), said the immediate priority is to consolidate existing services before introducing new specialised facilities. “Our first focus is on strengthening current services. Once that is achieved, we plan to expand and cater to the entire North East, and eventually attract patients from far beyond the region,” he noted.
He also hinted at exclusive offerings in the pipeline, including advanced correctional surgeries for physical deformities, which will be unique to the Guwahati centre.
Located around 25 km from Guwahati city, AIIMS-Guwahati was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14, 2023. The institute currently operates 41 departments, has 367 functional inpatient beds, and records a daily outpatient footfall of nearly 2,000. It also runs academic programmes including MBBS, postgraduate courses, and BSc Nursing.
Dr. Sanjay underlined that AIIMS-Guwahati plays a crucial role in bridging healthcare gaps in the Northeast. “Free education and food security were addressed earlier. Now, healthcare is being taken care of to build a developed Bharat,” he said.
While ruling out the opening of satellite campuses in other parts of the region due to challenges like staffing and infrastructure, he emphasised building AIIMS-Guwahati into a premier centre of excellence. Cancer care, given Assam’s high incidence, will remain a key focus area. “Early detection of tumours significantly improves survival chances,” he advised, urging people to seek timely medical advice for symptoms such as persistent pain, lumps, or blood in cough.
The institute is also addressing the growing concern of substance abuse in the state. It runs a dedicated de-addiction facility staffed with psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and supported by a research wing in collaboration with NIMHANS, Bangalore.
Executive Director Dr. Ashok Puranik added that eligible patients are already being treated free of cost under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. The most common concerns remain tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and mixed drug abuse, he noted.
