Rahul Gandhi writes to Nadda and Atishi over dire conditions outside Delhi AIIMS

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has raised urgent concerns regarding the conditions faced by patients and their families outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. In his letters to Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Gandhi described the situation as a "humanitarian crisis" and emphasized the immediate need for government intervention to improve the living conditions of those seeking medical care. Gandhi's letters, dated January 18, address multiple issues surrounding the lack of basic amenities, overcrowding, and delayed treatment at the healthcare institution.

Gandhi specifically highlighted the conditions outside AIIMS, where patients and their families are often forced to sleep on footpaths and in subways. These individuals, many of whom travel from various parts of India, face freezing winter conditions with inadequate protection, such as thin blankets. Gandhi observed that these areas lack essential services, including drinking water, toilets, and proper sanitation, which exacerbates the difficulties faced by the patients. He also pointed out that heaps of garbage were present around the areas where patients gather, contributing to the unsanitary environment. Gandhi urged the Delhi government to take immediate action, including providing heating, bedding, water, and shelter to patients and their families during the winter months.

Beyond immediate measures, Gandhi recommended long-term solutions to address the overcrowding and inadequate accommodation outside AIIMS. He suggested that the Delhi government, in partnership with AIIMS and charitable organizations, explore options for expanding existing facilities or constructing new ones that would provide permanent accommodation for patients and their families. Gandhi emphasized that such initiatives would ease the burden on AIIMS and help improve conditions for patients who often face long wait times for medical treatment.

In his letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Gandhi raised concerns about the systemic issues within the Indian healthcare system. He noted that AIIMS Delhi is overburdened due to the lack of affordable healthcare options in many parts of the country, forcing a significant number of patients to travel to the capital for treatment. Gandhi highlighted that the increased number of patients seeking care at AIIMS indicates that millions of people do not have access to quality healthcare in their own regions. He urged the central government to operationalize new AIIMS facilities across India at the earliest to reduce the pressure on AIIMS Delhi and provide more accessible healthcare to the population.

Gandhi further proposed strengthening public healthcare infrastructure at all levels, from primary to tertiary care, to address the growing demand for medical services. He urged the government to review the Ayushman Bharat scheme, with a focus on expanding eligibility criteria, increasing the number of enrolled hospitals, and covering a broader range of medical conditions. This, he said, would help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients and increase healthcare accessibility for underserved populations. Gandhi also called for a review of the rising costs of private healthcare, which many patients are forced to seek due to overcrowding at public hospitals like AIIMS.

Finally, Gandhi appealed for increased investment in public healthcare in the upcoming Union Budget. He emphasized the need for substantial resources to address both the immediate and long-term challenges faced by AIIMS and the broader healthcare system. Gandhi also recommended that patients be informed about waiting times during their treatment to reduce uncertainty and anxiety. By addressing the immediate issues at AIIMS and strengthening the overall healthcare infrastructure, Gandhi stressed that the government could significantly improve healthcare accessibility and quality for millions of Indians.