AIIMS Bilaspur unveils student-developed digital platform to enable real-time emergency referrals; aims to help specialists prepare before critically ill patients arrive
In a significant step towards strengthening emergency healthcare through digital innovation, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bilaspur, has launched ‘Aapat Setu’, an advanced digital emergency referral platform that enables hospitals to transmit critical patient information to specialists even before a patient reaches the referral centre.
The platform was virtually inaugurated on Tuesday by Narendra Kumar Arora, Chairman of AIIMS Bilaspur, under the guidance of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda. During the event, the institute also launched its new bilingual official website to improve accessibility for patients, students, researchers and the public.
Innovative Platform Developed by a Class IX Student
‘Aapat Setu’ has been conceptualised and developed by Darsh Verma, a 14-year-old Class IX student of DAV School, Bilaspur, and the son of Dr Dinesh Verma, Senior Physician and Medical Superintendent at AIIMS Bilaspur.
The idea was inspired by the challenges faced during emergency referrals, where critically ill patients often arrive at tertiary care centres without complete medical records, delaying treatment and emergency preparedness.
Real-Time Patient Information Before Arrival
The digital platform allows referring hospitals to upload a patient’s clinical history, investigation reports, treatment details and current health status in real time.
Once the information is uploaded, specialists at the referral hospital receive instant SMS alerts, enabling them to prepare operation theatres, diagnostic facilities, medical equipment and specialist teams while the patient is still in transit.
According to Darsh Verma, the objective of the platform is to ensure doctors receive complete clinical information before the patient’s arrival so that treatment can begin without unnecessary delays.
He said the advance alerts can significantly improve emergency preparedness and help save lives by reducing the time lost after patient arrival.
Platform to Expand Across Thousands of Hospitals
At present, ‘Aapat Setu’ is capable of connecting approximately 100 to 200 hospitals.
Darsh said future versions of the platform are being developed to support thousands of healthcare institutions nationwide. Planned upgrades include the transmission of patient photographs and additional clinical information to further improve emergency decision-making.
He explained that the concept emerged after discussions with his father regarding difficulties encountered during emergency referrals, particularly when patients arrived at AIIMS without complete medical documentation.
AIIMS Bilaspur Recommends National Adoption
Recognising its potential, AIIMS Bilaspur has recommended the platform to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for implementation across all AIIMS institutions in India.
The institute believes the platform can strengthen emergency referral systems, improve coordination between healthcare facilities and enhance patient outcomes by reducing delays in treatment.
Doctors Highlight Benefits for Emergency Care
Speaking about the initiative, Dr Dinesh Verma, Senior Physician and Medical Superintendent at AIIMS Bilaspur, said the platform is designed to minimise critical time lost during emergency referrals.
He noted that advance access to patient information allows specialists to keep operation theatres, investigations, medical equipment and emergency teams ready before the patient reaches the hospital, substantially improving emergency response.
He added that while the platform currently supports integration with hundreds of hospitals, its architecture allows nationwide scalability, making it a potential national model for digital emergency referrals.
New Bilingual Website Enhances Public Access
Alongside ‘Aapat Setu’, AIIMS Bilaspur also launched its new bilingual official website in Hindi and English.
The redesigned portal provides comprehensive information on clinical departments, specialist doctors, OPD and IPD services, academic programmes, recruitment notifications, tenders, citizen services and institutional updates through a user-friendly interface.
Real-Time Dashboard Planned for Hospital Network
According to AIIMS Bilaspur, the platform will gradually integrate hospitals, emergency services and healthcare professionals into a unified digital network.
Once hospitals across Himachal Pradesh are connected, ‘Aapat Setu’ will feature a real-time dashboard displaying the availability of specialist services and vacant hospital beds, enabling quicker and better-coordinated referrals during medical emergencies.
Hospitals can register on the platform using their institutional email ID through the official Aapat Setu portal.
AIIMS Bilaspur Expanding Healthcare Services
AIIMS Bilaspur currently serves lakhs of patients from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. Within just over three years of becoming operational, the institute has commissioned its 750-bed capacity and now treats more than 1,500 patients daily.
The institute is also planning to expand its inpatient capacity to nearly 960 beds in response to increasing patient demand.
On the academic front, AIIMS Bilaspur has graduated its first MBBS batch, while nearly 900 students are currently pursuing medical, nursing and paramedical education. The institute is simultaneously expanding its super-speciality healthcare services and research programmes.
The AIIMS Chairman thanked Union Health Minister JP Nadda, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Himachal Pradesh administration and the institute’s staff for their continued support, expressing confidence that both the ‘Aapat Setu’ platform and the new bilingual website will strengthen digital healthcare delivery and improve the accessibility, transparency and efficiency of emergency medical services.
