Act on patients, their kin outside AIIMS, Rahul urges Nadda, Atishi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, highlighting the plight of hundreds of patients and their family members staying on the footpath and subway outside AIIMS here and sought concrete steps to resolve this “humanitarian crisis”.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha urged the Central Government to take concrete steps to strengthen the public healthcare system in the upcoming Budget and increase the necessary resources for it.

In a post in Hindi on X, Rahul said, “I have written letters to the Delhi Chief Minister and the Union Health Minister to provide better facilities to the patients and their families coming to Delhi AIIMS from all over the country.”

“Recently I saw that in freezing cold these people are forced to sleep in the subway under the Metro station, where there is no provision of drinking water or a toilet. There are heaps of garbage lying around. The arrival of such a large number of patients to Delhi AIIMS also shows that people are not getting affordable and good quality health facilities where they live,” Rahul said.

“I hope that taking cognizance of my letter, the Delhi CM and the Union Health Minister will take immediate steps to resolve this humanitarian crisis,” he said.

In his letter to Nadda, Gandhi said he wants to bring to his attention “the distressing situation” outside AllMS and went on to add that during his recent visit to the area he was saddened to see hundreds of patients and their family members huddled on the footpath and in the subway in the bitter winter cold, with only thin blankets to protect them without drinking water or sanitation facilities.

“Many of these patients travel from across the country, spend their life savings, and wait for months on end for medical care at India’s premier medical institution. I am sure you will agree that no one should face such hardship, especially while already battling serious medical conditions,” he said.

While AIIMS delivers excellent and affordable care, the condition of patients and their families shows that healthcare is still out of reach for crores of Indians, he said in his letter dated January 18.

In his letter to Atishi, Rahul urged the Delhi Government to take immediate and timely steps this winter. “More permanent solutions to accommodate patients by building and expanding permanent facilities should also be explored, in partnership with AIIMS and the Government of India, as well as charitable organisations,” he said.