Pune to Get State-of-the-Art AIIMS At Aundh District Hospital Campus, Deputy CM Pawar Spearheads Initiative

Pune, 28th February 2024: In a significant development for healthcare infrastructure, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar disclosed plans on Tuesday for the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Pune, mirroring the renowned AIIMS in Nagpur. The state government is set to forward a formal proposal to the Union Health Ministry in this regard for the second AIIMS in Maharashtra.

The Health Department has identified approximately 85 acres of land within the district hospital premises in Aundh for the proposed AIIMS. The initiative aims to enhance healthcare facilities not only in Pune city but also in the surrounding districts. Residents of western Maharashtra are expected to benefit substantially from the establishment of AIIMS.

The state’s medical education department will submit a comprehensive proposal to the Union health ministry for the establishment of AIIMS. Once approved, the state government will take the responsibility of providing the required space for the project.

Government hospitals in the district are grappling with increased pressure, primarily due to population growth, resulting in a capacity shortfall. The lack of facilities in rural areas and municipal hospitals has led to a surge in patients seeking treatment at Sassoon General Hospital. AIIMS in Aundh is envisioned to alleviate this pressure, improving healthcare accessibility and reducing the burden on Sassoon Hospital, the largest government hospital in western Maharashtra.

The scarcity of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in government hospitals poses a challenge. Sassoon Hospital currently has a capacity of 113 ICU beds, while PMC’s Kamala Nehru Hospital and District Hospital have 17 and 15 beds, respectively. The establishment of AIIMS is expected to augment the number of ICU beds, easing the strain on existing healthcare facilities.

Dinesh Waghmare, Principal Secretary of the Department of Medical Education, affirmed that discussions had been underway at the state government level regarding the construction of AIIMS in Aundh. The impending proposal is a significant step towards addressing the pressing healthcare needs of the region, with the government committing to providing the necessary space for the AIIMS project.