All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jammu is currently recording an average daily Outpatient Department (OPD) footfall of 1,000 to 2,000 patients- averaging around 1,500 daily – catering not only to residents across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, but also drawing patients from New Delhi.
This was maintained by Prof (Dr) Sanjeev Sinha, Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), AIIMS Vijaypur of Samba district in Jammu region during an extensive interactive session with the visiting media representatives from Bhopal.
The delegation of media persons from Bhopal, as part of an exposure and media tour organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), was in AIIMS Jammu on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, to gain first-hand insight into the premier institute’s infrastructure, clinical advancements, academic programmes and patient-centric innovations.
Prof (Dr) Sanjeev Sinha, during interaction, provided an overview of the hospital’s expanding clinical footprint and highlighted that the institute was structured with a 750-bed capacity, including 650 fixed beds, modern modular operation theatres, a fully equipped emergency medicine block and an integrated AYUSH Centre.
Emphasising self-reliance and comprehensive clinical care, he underscored that 30 broad specialties and 14 super-specialties, including Cardiology, Neurosurgery, and Plastic Surgery, were fully operational, ensuring patients receive end-to-end management locally without transfers, while specialised teams from AIIMS New Delhi were mobilized to assist on-site whenever necessary.
He also highlighted that the institute achieved prestigious milestones by becoming the first hospital in the region to earn NABH accreditation, alongside bagging the “Best Infrastructure Award” and the “National Patient Safety Award” at Nagpur, while clearance for advanced robotic surgery was expected shortly.
Throwing light on the research ecosystem, cutting-edge oncological advancements, and academic growth, Prof (Dr) Shabab Lalit Angurana, Professor, Dean of Research and Head of the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, stated that translational clinical research remained a key institutional pillar, driven by energetic young faculty actively working on approximately 12 high-impact research projects valued at Rs 8 to Rs 9 Cr. Prof Angurana also pointed out that the institute was fostering student scientific inquiry with around 23 short-term research projects supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under faculty mentorship.
On future therapeutic capabilities, he elaborated on the upcoming establishment of a dedicated Nuclear Medicine facility equipped with state-of-the-art PET-CT scan infrastructure to drastically elevate diagnostic and cancer-care services in the coming years. Highlighting institutional academics, he noted that after commencing with an initial intake of 50 MBBS seats, the institute was admitting 125 MBBS students in the current batch, while concurrently operating comprehensive MD programmes and 50 super-specialty seats—including M Ch in Pediatric Surgery and DM in Endocrinology—with Ph D programmes scheduled to roll out soon.
The delegation was also briefed on the deployment of smart hospital technologies, including intelligent patient navigation kiosks currently supporting three languages and scaling up to incorporate 30 to 31 regional languages, assisted camera navigation networks and a digital footprint generating 15,000 to 24,000 ABHA IDs every month under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, alongside specialised clinical methodologies designed to prolong longevity and improve care for HIV patients.
Prof (Dr) Vijay Kundal, Dr Amit Chaudhary, Assistant Professor, Department of Hospital Administration, along with other senior administrative and clinical officers of the institute, were also present on the occasion.
Later, the delegation visited the aquarium-cum-awareness centre at Bahu Fort, Jammu, where Joint Director, Department of Fisheries, Masood Hussain, briefed the members on developmental initiatives and achievements in the sector.
Spread over an expanse of 30 kanals, the facility was established under its state-sponsored phase I at an initial cost of Rs 8.40 Cr.
The existing setup houses the country’s largest freshwater aquarium, showcasing over 100 fish species alongside newly introduced ornamental varieties. Operating year-round, the centre serves as a prime public awareness and eco-tourism hub, catering to an overall footfall of over one crore tourists to the area and generating Rs 5 to 6 lakh in annual revenue.
The media delegation was informed about the ongoing execution of phase II, which entails setting up North India’s first and the country’s third marine aquarium. Scheduled to open this November, the upcoming marine wing features 50 mm acrylic glass boasting 98 percent transparency, a 4-lakh-litre marine water system, and 18,000 kg of specialized salt to sustain the marine ecosystem.
Briefing on the broader regional sector, the Joint Director highlighted that fisheries has emerged as a significant employment generator across Jammu & Kashmir, with targets set to achieve 28,000 metric tonnes of trout production alongside an annual revenue target of Rs 10 Cr through commercial trout production and angling tourism.
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