AIIMS Bathinda OPD to start on December 23: Harsimrat
BATHINDA: After missing several deadlines, the out-patient department (OPD) services at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here will start on December 23.
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Union food processing industries minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the OPD services in nine of the 12 departments at the AIIMS will be launched by Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on December 23.
She said all OPDS and in-patient departments at AIIMS Bathinda will become operational by June 20 next year and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the institute thereafter.
Harsimrat earlier chaired a meeting to review the progress of development works and schemes of the central government in Bathinda Lok Sabha segment. She also held a meeting with the officials of railways regarding various projects and grievances of public.
She also asked the Punjab government to “do its bit” to ensure the smooth opening of the prestigious institute.
She said though AIIM Bathinda is a centrally funded project, the state government is responsible for making arrangements on the ground such as suitable approach roads, bus stops and shelters.
She said it was unfortunate that these arrangements had not been made yet even though the institute is in the final stages of completion.
She said if the state does not get its act together soon, she would allocate money from her Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds to ensure these facilities at the earliest.
“With the start of AIIMS Bathinda, superspecialty treatment will be available here and people will not have to travel to other places. This is a major boon for Punjabis, particularly the people of the Malwa belt,” she added.