• Source:JND
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The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Phulwarisharif, Patna, established with the vision of providing world-class medical care to Bihar residents, is currently facing operational challenges that are causing significant distress to patients. Despite being seen as a dependable alternative to hospitals in Delhi and other metropolitan cities, the institute is grappling with overcrowded facilities, long waiting times, and limited diagnostic and emergency services.

Patients from distant districts continue to arrive daily in large numbers at the OPD and emergency departments, seeking advanced treatment. However, many are met with systemic hurdles — from difficulty in obtaining timely registration and consultations to delays in diagnostic tests and non-availability of emergency beds.

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New patients visiting the OPD must complete Abha registration before 10:00 AM, failing which they are denied treatment for the day. Those registering between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM often spend several hours in queues, only to find the registration counter closed by the time they reach. Even after successful consultation, procedures such as MRI, CT scans, and ultrasounds are scheduled more than a month in advance. On Wednesday, patients were reportedly being given dates as far as 34 days later.

The situation in the emergency ward is no better. Patients referred from other hospitals often wait in ambulances or on stretchers for long periods, only to be informed that no beds are available. In some instances, hospital staff have reportedly advised attendants to explore private healthcare options.

According to the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, no hospital is permitted to deny admission or referral for serious patients without adequate assessment. However, reports indicate that patients with critical conditions — including cases of brain haemorrhage — are being turned away due to bed shortages, with repeated assurances of availability on a “next day” basis that remain unfulfilled.

Addressing these concerns, Dr Saurabh Varshney, Director of AIIMS Patna and Deoghar, stated:
"We are aware of the ongoing issues in OPD, diagnostic, and emergency services. Our medical staff continues to examine all registered OPD patients till late evening.

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Recognising the growing patient load and public trust in AIIMS Patna, we are actively working to enhance infrastructure. A 250-bed critical care unit is currently under construction and is expected to be operational within the next two to two-and-a-half months. This will significantly improve emergency care services for critically ill patients."

While the administration works towards expanding facilities, the immediate challenges continue to impact patient care, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructural and systemic reforms to meet the growing healthcare demands of the region.

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