Kalyani, Jan. 25: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kalyani is set to commence operations from January 27, when it is slated to begin its outpatient department (OPD) with “limited services” to a “restricted number of patients” at its premises in Basantpur located on the outskirts of the town.
Sources said, however, that there would be no formal inauguration for the much-awaited medical facility until “full-fledged” services were launched. “The formal inauguration will be held only once the full-fledged hospital, with both outpatient and inpatient care, becomes operational”, said AIIMS Kalyani’s executive director, Ramji Singh. Sources said the Centre has declared September as the target for making AIIMS Kalyani fully operational.
Authorities this week issued a notification stating that at present, only outpatients would receive service across eight departments. “To begin with, we will offer outdoor services at General Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), and Psychiatry for a restricted number of patients”, said Singh.
Full-fledged OPD services spanning 17 departments are expected to become operational from April this year, an official said.
“Considering limited facilities, we will at present offer around 100 outpatients services between 9 am to 1 pm from Monday to Friday. There will be no service on Saturday, Sunday, and on central government holidays”, Singh told The NfN, adding that patients would have to register on-site between 8 am and 11 am against the prior appointment through the AIIMS Kalyani’s portal.
Speaking to The NfN, Singh added, “At present, there will be no emergency care, laboratories, diagnostic services, or admission of patients into indoor treatment since the limited outpatient care is being launched largely for academic purposes. It will help our MBBS students to get exposure to a clinical education”.
The construction work for AIIMS Kalyani had begun in 2016 on 179.82 acres of land allotted by the Bengal government in Basantapur area located on the outskirts of Kalyani town, 45 km away from Calcutta and connected by NH12.
Two construction companies were assigned the construction work across two phases. In the first phase, the OPD and residential buildings were constructed. Work on the second phase is ongoing and set to meet the targeted inauguration of the entire project in September 2021.
Officials from the union health ministry, AIIMS’ governing body, are at present working in coordination with the Bengal government so that infrastructure outside the premises — that includes the construction of a four-lane road, bus bay, and a police station — are completed.