Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Thursday inaugurated a 120-bed night shelter at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to alleviate the hassles experienced by outstation patients and their accompanying relatives.
It has been set up by the Sashastra Seema Bal Wives Welfare Association’s (Sandiksha) in collaboration with the AIIMS.
“From time to time I visit these night shelters to inspect how they can be improved. I want to thank Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for helping in setting up 120-bed night shelter home”, the Minister said.
“It was important for us to set up night shelters for the patients who come for treatment at AIIMS, from others States. As many of them have to stay back for tests and treatment. Though these night shelters will provide residing facilities to 120 patients, but there are several other night shelters and vishram sadans that are serving the purpose for long, especially during winters,” Nadda said.
According to the Health Ministry, a 2,200-bed hospital, AIIMS receives over 10,000 patients daily, out of whom 2,500 are indoor patients who have to stay in the hospital or nearby areas,
It’s estimated that over 1,000 patients a day have been sleeping roughly on the stair-cases of Metro stations, the pavements within the premises of AIIMS, and the footpaths, said the Minister.
A person using the shelter is being provided with washroom facilities, bed with blanket, and breakfast.
Currently, AIIMS trauma centre has a 100-bed night shelter that is being run by the Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) and the 450-bed ‘Vishram Sadan’ set up by AIIMS and located near Safdarjung Hospital.