Rohit Shishodia  
AIIMS-Bathinda operationalized 11 OPDs on December 23, 2019, even as union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan announced that the hospital will be fully functional by June 2020.

The services, which were inaugurated by Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, include general medicine, gynecology and obstetrics, general surgery, surgical oncology, urology, pediatric surgery, orthopedic, ENT, ophthalmology, psychiatry, dermatology and dental care.

Additionally, services of basic radiology (X-ray, ultrasound and color doppler), basic biochemistry, hematological tests, and medicines at discounted rates through AMRIT pharmacy were also operationalized.

Dr Vardhan said that AIIMS-Bathinda will be fully functional by June, 2020, and PGI Chandigarh is the mentor institute supporting it.

“First batch of 50 MBBS students of AIIMS-Bathinda has been started from the academic year 2019-20 in Baba Faridkot University. The operationalisation of the OPD services today will immensely benefit the people of Bathinda and the nearby regions with high quality and affordable medical services,” explained Dr Vardhan.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal, MP, Bathinda and Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, said that the new services at AIIMS-Bathinda shall help the people of the region avail of superior healthcare.