President Of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu Addresses 49th Annual Convocation Of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

New Delhi, Delhi, 21st of March 2025 : Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu addressed the 49^th Annual Convocation Ceremony of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi in the presence of Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, here today.

Addressing the participants, the President said that “AIIMS New Delhi has created a benchmark in healthcare and medical education. The doctors and researchers graduating today will have a pivotal role in strengthening our healthcare system and serving the nation with dedication.” She stated that “AIIMS is a running laboratory of the Gita’s Karmayoga.”

President highlighted that AIIMS is a proud Made-in-India success story and is a model worth emulating across the country. “It has been at the forefront of pathbreaking research, particularly during the time of pandemics like the Covid-19”. “The responsibility of AIIMS goes beyond healthcare, education and research. It extends to fostering an environment where every stakeholder’s voice is heard, where resources are utilised judiciously and where excellence is the norm”, she stated.

Underscoring the challenges in healthcare today, the President emphasized that with advances in healthcare, life expectancy is increasing. As a result, the number of ageing population is increasing, leading to new challenges in this field. At the same time, the medical profession is grappling with diseases arising out of lifestyle changes in modern times. She urged the faculty of AIIMS New Delhi to launch an awareness drive on mental health “to make people aware of this hidden sickness”.

The President stated that modern medicine conducts a short-term experiment to arrive at a conclusion while Ayurveda, yoga and many traditional systems of medicine take a long-term and holistic approach to human health. In this context, she appreciated AIIMS New Delhi for embracing India’s ancient health healing practices to offer a mix of modernity and tradition in dealing with health matters.

She also exhorted AIIMS to launch a campaign to bring gender equality in healthcare protocol as it has been observed that most of the patients suffering from heart ailment and other diseases are predominantly male.

President concluded her address by congratulating the students and the parents for their relentless sacrifice, hard work and discipline.

Congratulating the students for graduating from India’s premier medical institution, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda stated that “a commitment to continuous learning and growth has propelled AIIMS New Delhi to a position, where it has been acing the NIRF rankings in the medical category since 2018”. He said that AIIMS has constantly expanded its capabilities to meet the healthcare needs of the country.

Highlighting some recent achievements of AIIMS, Shri Nadda stated that “AIIMS has established itself as a leader in AI-driven diagnostics and robotic surgery training. It is the first medical institution in India to perform several ground-breaking procedures, including a dual kidney transplant and renal auto-transplant. The institute’s commitment to research is evident in its management of over 900 extramural projects with substantial funding.” He added that AIIMS New Delhi has also consistently managed to secure First Rank in Kayakalp Awards by bringing in initiatives like mechanized cleaning, up-skilling & reskilling its sanitation manpower, etc.

The Union Health Minister encouraged the students to apply their talent, skills and knowledge gained in a premier institution like AIIMS towards effectively improving the healthcare system in the country. He urged them to carry the work ethic and culture of AIIMS New Delhi in the newly established AIIMS and tertiary care institutions in the country, if they get an opportunity to serve there. “Your education at AIIMS has equipped you with not only the requisite knowledge and skills to excel in your chosen fields but also the values of empathy, integrity, and service. These core values will serve as your guiding principles as you navigate the complexities of the medical profession and endeavour to make a positive impact on the lives of those you serve”, he added.

Shri Nadda concluded his address by exhorting the students to embrace the spirit of innovation and collaboration. “The advancements in medical science and technology are revolutionizing the landscape of healthcare, and it is through interdisciplinary partnerships and a commitment to lifelong learning that we can effectively address the pressing health issues of our time”, he stated.

During the convocation, a total of 1,886 degrees were conferred in various disciplines, amongst which 77 were Ph.D. scholars, 363 DM/MCh specialists, 572 MDs, 76 MSs, 49 MDSs, 74 Fellowship, 172 MSc, 191 MBBS and 312 BSc. 8 doctors received the Lifetime Achievement Award for their commendable services at AIIMS. 28 students and doctors received medals and book prizes. 9 received appreciation prizes.

AIIMS has made massive advancements with respect to its infrastructure and healthcare services in the last two years. In its new avatar, the institute boasts more than 4,000 inpatient beds, treating nearly 48 lakh OPD patients and admitting 3.2 lakh inpatients every year. It has also increased its surgical capacity by 50%, performing close to 2.80 lakh surgeries annually, many of which are highly complex.

Bed capacity in AIIMS has been expanded by 34%, and surgical and diagnostic facilities have improved through technology and efficient management of resources. AIIMS has also launched path-breaking digital healthcare initiatives, including AIIMS-SBI Smart Card, SAHAS (System for AIIMS Human Resources and Accounting Services), and SANTUSH Complaint Redressal Portal, thereby ushering in a new era of transparency and efficiency in hospital administration.

The Government of India has declared AIIMS a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, while the Centre for Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CMIE) is nurturing 24 healthcare start-ups working on regenerative medicine and medical devices, as well as app-based healthcare solutions.

AIIMS New Delhi has built stronger collaborations with premier institutions in India and abroad. AIIMS, with support from the Armed Forces Medical Services, seeks enhancement of research in high-altitude, aerospace, and marine medicine. Inter-institutional research ties have also expanded with IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, CCMB and CSIR-NIIST and international bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and Klinikum der Universität München, Germany.

Also present at the function were Prof. M N Srinivas, Director, AIIMS New Delhi, Dr. Kaushal Kumar Verma, Dean (Academics), AIIMS New Delhi; Prof. Girija Prasad Rath, Registrar, AIIMS New Delhi along with faculty members and the students.

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