Union Health Minister Stresses Governance Clarity, AI Integration and Faculty Recruitment
New Delhi: Union Health Minister JP Nadda addressed the Leadership Conclave for Presidents and Executive Directors of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the national capital. The conclave aims to strengthen institutional capacities and build a cohesive network among AIIMS institutions.
The Minister described the conclave as timely and relevant, especially during the ongoing expansion of the AIIMS network across the country. He emphasized maintaining a balanced focus on patient care, medical education, and research, while reinforcing a strong patient-centric approach in all institutions.
Highlighting the importance of patient satisfaction, he called for structured feedback mechanisms and concrete measures to enhance the quality of care. He expressed confidence that the newer AIIMS institutions would progressively match global standards while preserving the legacy and ethos associated with the AIIMS system.
Noting that different AIIMS are at varied stages of development, the Minister stressed the need for coordinated growth and mutual support. He welcomed the formation of a collaborative research consortium involving 20 AIIMS and urged institutional leaders to combine administrative efficiency with academic excellence.
Clarifying governance roles, he reiterated that the President of each AIIMS represents the Ministry and provides oversight, while the Executive Director is responsible for day-to-day administration. He emphasized that respecting this functional distinction is essential for smooth institutional functioning and called for greater transparency and accountability in decision-making.
The Minister also advocated the integration of Artificial Intelligence in diagnostics and clinical decision-making. He urged AIIMS institutions to institutionalize telemedicine services and strengthen outreach programmes to deepen community engagement and reinforce their public health mandate.
On human resources, he directed faster faculty recruitment without compromising quality standards. Suggesting at least four interview cycles annually, he highlighted the importance of structured recruitment processes such as NORCET and the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) for nursing and non-faculty staff to ensure timely appointments.
He further called for establishing Jan Aushadhi Kendras and AMRIT Pharmacies in every AIIMS to ensure affordable medicines. Emphasizing research collaboration with premier institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institutes of Management, he underscored the need to maintain high standards despite expansion. On the occasion, he also released a publication titled “Compilation of Office Memorandum and Guidelines on Various Matters,” prepared by the Ministry’s Finance Division as a reference for institutions under its purview.
