Bilaspur: AIIMS Bilaspur must emerge as a premier centre for advanced tertiary healthcare and strengthen access to specialist services for people living in remote and hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh, President Droupadi Murmu said.
Addressing the first convocation of AIIMS Bilaspur, Murmu said the institute has a special responsibility because of its geographical location and should use technology to address the challenges of delivering timely healthcare in the state’s remote areas.
She highlighted telemedicine, specialist consultations for remote populations, training of medical personnel and the use of newer technologies as areas that could strengthen healthcare delivery in hilly regions.
The President also said AIIMS institutions have a broader role in enabling more people to access quality medical treatment while providing meritorious students with opportunities for top-tier medical education.
“Quality medical care at a minimal cost is the hallmark of AIIMS,” she said, adding that the expansion of AIIMS across the country was aimed at extending access to quality healthcare and medical education.
Murmu also emphasised the need for medical professionals to combine clinical knowledge and skills with empathy and compassion. She said the primary objective of the medical profession should be to serve humanity.
The President said rising costs of medical equipment and medicines remained a challenge for patients and their families. Developing affordable, accessible and cost-effective healthcare solutions, she said, presents both a challenge and an opportunity for premier institutions such as AIIMS.
She also referred to the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, under which eligible families receive health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per year.
The first convocation marks an important milestone for AIIMS Bilaspur as the institute expands its role in medical education and healthcare delivery in Himachal Pradesh.
