The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi and three other centrally run hospitals in the national capital, including Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and Lady Hardinge Medical College, have collectively sought a budget outlay of over ₹9,000 crore in the upcoming interim budget. The request comes as these hospitals anticipate an overall jump in allocation of around 13% compared to the previous Union budget.
AIIMS Delhi:
AIIMS Delhi, being a premier institute, has sought a budgetary allocation of ₹4,450 crore, reflecting a 7% increase from the previous year’s allocation. In the 2023-24 Union budget, the hospital was allocated ₹4,134 crore, of which it has received ₹3,720 crore. The increased budget expectations are attributed to the need for funding expansion programs, including the maintenance of new buildings, and covering salaries, especially for those appointed on a contractual basis.
As an autonomous institute, AIIMS Delhi receives a separate budget, which is typically higher than those of other centrally run hospitals. The hospital administration emphasizes the importance of maintaining existing infrastructure while accommodating expansion initiatives.
Safdarjung Hospital:
Safdarjung Hospital has demanded a budget of around ₹2,200 crore, reflecting an 18% increase from the previous year’s allocation of ₹1,853 crore. The hospital plays a crucial role in the efforts to reduce the burden on AIIMS Delhi. The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry have been actively working to elevate the status of Safdarjung Hospital and introduce additional departments, with a particular focus on women’s health.
Safdarjung Hospital has been expanding its gynecology department and introducing specialized women’s OPDs (out-patient departments). In addition to routine and selective surgeries, OPD services, and super-specialty care, the hospital also provides free Ayurvedic OPD and Homeopathic OPD within its premises.
Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital:
Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has submitted an expectation of nearly ₹1,600 crore, marking a 25% increase from the previous year’s allocation of ₹1,272 crore. The hospital, which has a nursing home for central government employees and members of parliament, serves as a training center for undergraduate students of Lady Hardinge Medical College.
The increased budget is essential for supporting the hospital’s expansion plans and ensuring timely salary payments. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital emphasizes its commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare services while maintaining its role as a training center for medical education.
Lady Hardinge Medical College:
Lady Hardinge Medical College has requested a budget of ₹825 crore, representing a 7% increase from the previous year’s allocation of ₹768 crore. The institute, which provides undergraduate medical education for women and postgraduate medical education for both men and women, focuses on medical care for women and children.
A significant portion of the budget demand is allocated for timely salary payments of outsourced staff and the clearance of allowances. Lady Hardinge Medical College faces challenges related to manpower shortage for proper functioning, making the higher budget allocation crucial for addressing these issues.
The higher budget outlays requested by these hospitals are aimed at funding expansion plans, maintaining existing infrastructure, and ensuring timely salary payments to support their critical roles in healthcare and medical education. The hospitals play pivotal roles in serving the healthcare needs of the community while contributing to medical education and training. As the national capital’s healthcare institutions, their budget allocations hold significance in providing quality healthcare services and fostering medical education in the region.
