New Delhi: Patients seeking MRI scans at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) face wait times stretching up to three years, unless they are categorized as urgent or VIP cases.
For instance, 52-year-old Joydip Dey, referred to AIIMS for treatment of a leg injury, was given an appointment for an MRI scan on September 7, 2027, leaving him unable to afford alternative private care costing Rs 18,000–25,000. As a Below Poverty Line (BPL) patient, Dey said, “I can’t even pay Rs 4,000–5,000,” adding that the prolonged delay forced him to abandon his treatment entirely.
The backlog arises as approximately 15,000 patients visit AIIMS’ outpatient department (OPD) daily, with 10% requiring imaging procedures like ultrasounds, X-rays, and MRIs. While urgent cases receive priority care, waiting times for routine procedures range from six months to three years.
Categorization of Patients
AIIMS prioritizes patients into three tiers:
- Emergency Patients: Receive immediate diagnostic imaging, including MRIs.
- Inpatients: Wait about four days for MRI scans.
- Urgent OPD Cases: Wait between two weeks and a month for clinician-referred scans.
Non-urgent OPD patients, a significant portion of the hospital’s daily volume, often experience the longest delays.
Efforts to Address Delays
AIIMS Director Dr. M. Srinivas had issued directives in 2022 to run MRI machines 24/7 and increase the number of daily appointments. AIIMS also plans to implement a fully digital appointment system with defined cut-off times to reduce wait times and eliminate indefinite delays.
However, senior doctors acknowledge that the current backlog for non-critical cases remains a pressing challenge, underscoring the need for systemic reforms.