ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
 

6.16.1. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences was established in 1956 by an Act of Parliament.

6.16.2. The aims and objects of the Institute, as specified in the Act, were to develop patterns of teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in all its branches so as to demonstrate a high standard of medical education to all medical colleges and other allied institutions in India; to bring together at one plakhe educational facilities of the highest order for the training of personnel in all important branches of health activity; and to attain self-sufficiency in postgraduate medical education.

6.16.3. For pursuing academic programmes, the Institute has been kept outside the purview of the Medical Council of India. The Institute continues to be a leader in the field of medical education, research and patient-care in keeping with the mandate of the Parliament.

6.16.4. The Institute is fully funded by the Government of India. However, for research activities, grants are also received from various sources including national and international agencies. While the major part of the services are highly subsidised for the patients coming to the AIIMS hospitals, certain categories of patients are charged for treatment/services rendered to them.

6.16.5. Postgraduate Medical Education: During 1998-99 session 94 students (i.e. for the courses commencing in January, 1998 and July, 1998) were admitted to various postgraduate, post- doctoral and superspeciality courses i.e. M.D.,M.S., M.D.S., M.H.A., Ph.D., M.Ch., D.M., and M.Sc. in various specialities. Nine candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and five belonging to the Scheduled Tribes got admission to the postgraduate courses. The Institute provides full time postgraduate and post-doctoral courses in 40 disciplines. In the year under review, 50 postgraduate students qualified for various degrees. The guiding principle in postgraduate training is to train them as teachers, reserchers and above all as competent doctors to manage and treat the patients independently.

6.16.5.(i) 58 candidates from various organisations and State Governments received short-term training at the various departments of the Institute during the year.

6.16.6. Undergraduate Medical Education: This year the Institute admitted 50 students to its MBBS course, 14 students to B. Sc. Nursing (post-certificate) course, 50 students to B.Sc. (Hons.) in Nursing Course, 19 students to B. Sc. (Hons.) Human Biology Course, IO students to B.Sc. (Hons.) in Ophthalmic techniques, 6 students to B.Sc. (Hons.) in Medical Technology in Radiography and 4 students to B.Sc. (Hons.) in Speech and Hearing.

6.16.6.(i) The MBBS course is spread over five and a half years, dividing the period to one year for preclinical, one and a half years for para-clinical and two years for clinical subjects, followed by one year rotating internship. Paramedical courses like B. Sc. (Hons.) in Nursing, Ophthalmic Techniques, Medical Technology in Radiography and Speech and Hearing continued to be popular and attracted students from other countries also. The curricula of these courses are under constant scrutiny by the faculty of the Institute for purposes of improvement.

6.16.7. Continuing Medical education.The Institute organised a number of workshops, symposia and conferences in collaboration with various national and international agencies during the year. Professionals from various institutions all over the country participated in these seminars and workshops and benefited with update knowledge.

6.16.8. Training for Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) Candidates.- The SC and ST candidates are given due consideration and weightage in accordance with the Government of India guidelines in all selections. During the current year 30 SC/ST candidates were selected for various under-graduate courses; 11 SC/ST candidates were selected to the MBBS course; 2 candidates were admitted to B.Sc. (Hons.) Ophthalmic technique; I candidate was admitted to B.Sc. (Hons.) Medical Technology in Radiography course; I candidate was admitted to B.Sc. (Hons.) in Speech & Hearing course; I candidate was admitted to B.Sc. Nursing Post-certificate course; It candidates were admitted to B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing course and 3 candidates were admitted to B.Sc. (Hons.) Human Biology course during the year.

6.16.9. International Role: The Institute continued to provide consultancy services to several neighbouring countries under bilateral agreements or under the aegis of international agencies. The Institute is actively involved in development of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Nepal. During 1998-99 the Institute trained 17 candidates (including 7 WHO trainees and 10 foreign nationals as elective trainees) to fulfil its international obligations.

6.16.10. Research: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences is a leader in the field of medical research. Major research works are on in the areas of hepatitis, acute liver failure, sub-acute liver failure, diarrheal diseases in children, micro- nutrient deficiency, reproductive biology, oncogene, signal transduction, immunity of malaria parasite, mycobacteria study in TB and leprosy, developmental genetics, development of immunodiagnostics, bone marrow and genetic factors in epilepsy. 340 research Projects are continuing during this period.

6.16.10.(i) Research grants totalling to Rs. 3,69,17,448/- was received from various international and national funding agencies during 1998-99.

6.16.11. Patient Care Services: During 1997-98, the AlIMS hospital and speciality centres attended to over 16,97,853 patients in various out-patient departments (OPD's). The number of indoor patients during this period was 87,472. A total number of 1,08,828 surgical procedures were conducted including the procedures like brain tumour surgery, open heart surgery, heart transplant, kidney transplant and cancer surgery. During the period from April to September, 1998, the main hospital of the Institute attended to little over 5,57,000 patients in the OPDs and admitted 19,168 patients. Over 28,384 surgical procedures were conducted.

6.16.11.(i) During the first six months of the current year (1.4.98 to 30.9.98), the Cardio-Thoracic Centre conducted over 1,178 heart operations while the Neuro-sciences Centre performed 1, 329 operations and 60 Gamma Knife procedures were also performed. The Cardio-Thoracic Centre attended to 44,333 patients while the Neurosciences Centre had 30,219 patients in their OPDs.

6.16.11.(ii) The Institute-Rotary Cancer Hospital attended to 22,129 patients in the OPD and admitted 3,858 patients in the first half of the year. During this period, 1,262 cancer-re- lated surgery were undertaken at I.R.C.H.

6.16.11.(iii) Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sci ences attended to 1,42,457 patients in the OPD during the first six months of the current year (1.4.98 to 30.9.98). The number of admitted patients was 6,099 and surgical procedures were conducted on 6,315 patients during this period.

6.16.12. Community Services: Community based programmes have been integral part of the Institute's clinical and research activities. The Rural Health Centre at Ballabhgarh, being run under the supervision of the Centre for Community Medicine, is a unique experiment. Besides, departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Paediatrics, and Dr.Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences have been actively involved in community-based services. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences organises regular camps in the rural community.

6.16.13. Breakthrough & Innovtions: The Cardio-thoracic Centre has been providing state-of-the-art cardiac care to the patients suffering from coronary heart disease, congenital heart disease and valvular defects. After its spectacular success in heart transplantation surgery during the previous years, the centre has started work on Organ Retrieval and Banking Organisation with the support of the Government of India. Our cardiologists are routinely performing up-to-date procedures in the field of interventional cardiology like coronary stenting, atherectomy, balloon dialation for valves, radio-frequency ablation for arythmia etc.

6.16.13.(i) The Neurosciences Centre has been managing all types of neurological problems including a large number of brain surgery. The Gamma-Knife procedure has been fully established in the centre. Till now 178 procedures have been performed with very encouraging results.

6.16.13.(ii) Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences has started sutureless cataract surgery and laser surgery in a big way. The phacoemulcification procedure is being provided free of charge to all the patients. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre has acquired and installed an excimer laser and would be providing service at subsidised charges.

6.16.13.(iii) The Surgical Oncology Deparmanent in the Institute-Rotary Cancer Hospital has developed a breast cancer surgery based on ultrasonic application, which is virtually bloodless.

6.16.13.(iv) The Department of Urology has successfully reconstructed bladders, using intestinal sack, in patients suffering from bladder cancer. This would help hundreds of patients to have normal bladder function even after removal of the cancer bladder.

6.16.13.(v) The Department of Otorhinolaryngology has succes- sfully performed four Cochlear implantations, the last one being the 24-channel model.

6.16.13.(vi) The Department of Orthopedics has established itself as a leading centre in all types of joint replakhement surgery and spinal surgery.

6.16.14. Budget: For 1998-99 the Central Government has provided a budget of Rs. 168.09 Crore (Rs.69.96 crore in Plan and Rs. 98.13 crore in Non-plan). This includes Rs. 1 crore earmarked for developing the Trauma Centre.