Delhi plans to merge three hospitals to create AIIMS-style 'super medical hub'

The Delhi government plans to integrate three major public hospitals to create an AIIMS-style medical institute. The proposed 'super medical hub' aims to improve patient care, optimise resources, and expand medical education in the capital.

In Short

• Delhi govt plans to merge three hospitals into one super medical hub
• Integration aims to balance patient load and improve resource use
• Hospitals to specialise in distinct medical fields under one institute

Delhi’s public healthcare system may soon undergo a major transformation. The Delhi government has proposed a plan to merge three key hospitals in the capital: Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, the Delhi State Cancer Institute, and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital, into a single integrated medical institute designed on the lines of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The proposed institution is being described as a “super medical hub”, aimed at improving coordination between hospitals, ensuring better use of medical resources, and providing patients with more organised and specialised care.

Officials say the move will help reduce the uneven distribution of patient load across government hospitals in the city while also expanding access to advanced medical services.

The announcement followed a high-level meeting chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at the Delhi Secretariat, which was attended by Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh and other senior officials.

According to the government, the initiative is part of a broader effort to modernise the capital’s public healthcare infrastructure and make it more efficient.

If implemented successfully, the integrated institute could bring together specialised treatment facilities, medical education, and research under one coordinated structure, similar to the model followed by premier institutions like AIIMS.

DELHI’S PLAN TO CREATE A ‘SUPER MEDICAL HUB’

Under the proposed plan, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, the Delhi State Cancer Institute, and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital will be brought under a single autonomous institution. The government believes that integrating the three hospitals will allow doctors, specialists, equipment, and infrastructure to be used more effectively.

Officials say the current system often results in underutilised facilities in some hospitals, while others struggle with overwhelming patient numbers.

By coordinating services and infrastructure, the government hopes to create a more balanced and efficient healthcare system.

The integrated institute will function as a comprehensive medical hub where different hospitals will focus on specific specialities while remaining connected through a unified administrative and treatment framework.

ADDRESSING UNEVEN PATIENT LOAD

One of the key reasons behind the proposed integration is the uneven distribution of patients across government hospitals.

For example, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital has a total capacity of about 650 beds, but only around 250 beds are currently operational. This means nearly 400 beds remain unused.

On the other hand, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital is facing the opposite situation. The hospital has a sanctioned capacity of around 1,400 beds, but currently handles more than 1,500 beds due to the heavy patient load.

The hospital records more than 14 lakh outpatient department (OPD) visits every year, while nearly 95,000 patients receive inpatient treatment annually.

The Delhi State Cancer Institute also sees many patients, recording around 1.27 lakh OPD visits every year. Meanwhile, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital receives nearly 2.87 lakh OPD patients annually.

Officials believe that integrating these hospitals will help distribute patients more effectively while ensuring that people receive treatment in the most appropriate specialised department.

SPECIALISED SERVICES TO BE DISTRIBUTED

Under the proposed system, each hospital will focus on specific super-speciality departments to ensure more organised treatment and better patient outcomes.

Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital will primarily handle departments such as cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, gastrointestinal surgery, nephrology, urology, rheumatology, and clinical haematology.

The Delhi State Cancer Institute will continue to function as the central hub for cancer treatment. It will consolidate services including radiation oncology, surgical oncology, nuclear medicine, palliative care, and radio-imaging.

Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital will strengthen departments such as orthopaedics, internal medicine, ENT, general surgery, neurosurgery, endocrinology, and ophthalmology.

This distribution of specialities is expected to reduce duplication of services and improve treatment quality.

BETTER USE OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Another important reason behind the integration is the underutilisation of advanced medical equipment in several hospitals due to shortages of specialised staff or fragmented services.

For example, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital has bronchoscopy facilities as well as cath lab and echo lab services that are not being fully utilised.

Similarly, the Delhi State Cancer Institute houses a linear accelerator used for radiotherapy, while Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital has a bone bank facility.

By integrating the hospitals into a single institute, these resources can be used more efficiently and made available to a larger number of patients.

EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE

The plan also includes a major expansion of the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS). The government intends to develop the institute on the lines of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru.

Officials informally refer to the proposed expansion as “NIMHANS-2”. The goal is to transform the institute into a national-level centre for mental health and neurosciences.

The development will focus on strengthening research, treatment, and training in the field of mental health.

NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND MEDICAL EDUCATION

The government also plans to utilise about 75 acres of vacant land on the IHBAS campus to develop the integrated medical institute.

The IHBAS campus currently spans about 111.69 acres, of which the existing hospital building occupies around 19.9 acres.

Several older structures on the campus are in poor condition and are expected to be gradually replaced with modern healthcare facilities.

The proposed infrastructure will include hostels, advanced laboratories such as pathology and biochemistry labs, as well as auditoriums and lecture theatres to support medical education and training.

Officials say the integrated institute will not only strengthen patient care but also contribute to the training of future healthcare professionals.

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