**Summary:**
This document addresses Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3349, concerning the establishment of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Amritsar, Punjab, raised on August 8, 2025. The question highlights the lack of advanced healthcare facilities in the Amritsar border region and the potential benefits of an AIIMS in serving Punjab and neighboring states.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, responded that Public Health and Sanitation, Hospitals and Dispensaries is a State subject and the primary responsibility of strengthening the medical infrastructure lies with the respective State Government. While the government acknowledges the need for improved healthcare infrastructure, it clarifies that under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), an AIIMS has already been established and is functional in Bathinda, Punjab. Furthermore, under another component of PMSSY, Government Medical Colleges in Amritsar and Patiala have been upgraded through the construction of Super Specialty Blocks (SSBs) on a Centre-State cost-sharing basis. The response explicitly states that there is no current proposal under the present phase of PMSSY to establish a new AIIMS in Amritsar, Punjab.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for public health and family welfare.
AIIMS Amritsar: A proposed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital in Amritsar, Punjab.
Shri Gurjeet Singh Aujla: Member of Parliament who raised the question about establishing an AIIMS in Amritsar.
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh: A medical research and educational institute located in Chandigarh, India.
Pakistan: Neighboring country of India, mentioned in the context of Amritsar's strategic border location.
Punjab: A state in India where Amritsar and Bathinda are located, and where healthcare facilities are being upgraded.
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY): A centrally sponsored scheme for strengthening and upgrading tertiary healthcare facilities in India.
AIIMS Bathinda: An All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital in Bathinda, Punjab, which is currently functional.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO- 3349
TO BE ANSWERED ON08/08/2025
ESTABLISHMENTOFAIIMS IN AMRITSAR
3349.SHRIGURJEETSINGH AUJLA:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a)whether the Government isaware that the border belt of Amritsar where war like situation
can arise anytime lacks advanced, world-class healthcare facilities, forcing critical
patients to travel long distances to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education &
Research(PGIMER) ChandigarhorDelhi, incurringhugemedicalandlodgingcosts,ifso,
the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government proposes to establish an AIIMS hospital in Amritsar,
considering its strategic border location with Pakistan and the urgent need for specialized
trauma care,especially during emergenciesandborder conflicts, if so, the detailsthereof;
(c)whether the Government hastaken note thatsuch facilityislikelytoserve not only Punjab
butalso theadjoiningregionsofHaryana,HimachalPradeshandJammu&Kashmir,ifso,
the detailsthereof; and
(d) whether the Government has any plan to allocate a special package for the speedy
construction of AIIMS Amritsar under centrally sponsored schemes, if so, the details
thereofandif not,the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (d) “Public Health and Sanitation, Hospitals and Dispensaries” is a State subject and
the primary responsibility of strengthening the medical infrastructure lies with the respective
State Government.Under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY),setting upof
22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country has been approved
including AIIMS at Bathinda in Punjab, which is functional. Further, for strengthening and
upgrading tertiary healthcare facilities in Punjab, under another component of PMSSY
upgradation of following Government Medical Colleges has been completed by way of
construction of Super Specialty Blocks (SSBs) on Centre-State cost sharing basis: (i)
Government Medical College, Amritsar and (ii) Government Medical College, Patiala. In the
current phase of PMSSYthere isno proposal toestablish a newAIIMS inAmritsar,Punjab.
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