In a transformative step toward improving patient care, the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC) at Delhi AIIMS has unveiled five state-of-the-art modular Operation Theatres (OTs). This expansion promises to reduce surgical delays and handle a higher volume of critical cases, with the total number of OTs now increased to 11. For patients waiting for life-saving procedures, this marks a significant improvement in access to timely surgical care.

The trauma center, which sees a constant influx of patients from across the country, has long faced challenges due to its limited number of operating theatres. Despite expanding emergency services and increasing its bed capacity to 259, the bottleneck has always been the availability of OTs for surgical cases. With these newly operational theatres, JPNATC can now accommodate more surgeries, ranging from trauma interventions to complex organ retrieval procedures.

These new modular theatres come with cutting-edge features designed to optimize both patient care and medical training. The spacious design of each OT allows for multi-specialty surgeries, providing ample room for teams to work seamlessly during complex cases. One of the theatres is specially equipped with radio-safe technology and an O-arm intraoperative CT scanner, enhancing the precision of procedures that require imaging during surgery.

Another remarkable feature is the integration of these OTs with a global training network. Surgeries performed here can now be broadcast in real-time to demonstration rooms, lecture halls, or even internationally, offering medical students and professionals access to advanced learning opportunities. This development positions JPNATC as a hub not just for critical trauma care, but also for world-class medical education.

Patient safety has also been a priority in designing these new OTs. They are equipped with a laminar flow air conditioning system to minimize the risk of infection, while the seamless construction of the walls and floors makes cleaning more efficient, preventing the buildup of dust and microbes. Additionally, the expanded facilities include improved space for staff, with ample changing rooms and storage areas, ensuring smoother operations and better preparedness for emergencies.

For both patients and healthcare professionals, the addition of these five modular theatres signals a new era of advanced trauma care at AIIMS, where innovative technology and increased capacity come together to offer better outcomes and brighter futures.

Prof. Kamran Farooque, Chief of the Trauma Center, said, “We face a heavy influx of patients requiring surgeries, but until now, we’ve struggled with a shortage of operating theatres. This has slowed down our ability to admit and operate on patients promptly. The addition of these new OTs will allow us to double the number of surgeries and significantly enhance our overall capacity.”