All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2012

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Act, 2012 was a landmark legislative measure that expanded the framework of the original All-India Institute of Medical Sciences Act, 1956, to include the establishment of multiple AIIMS institutions across India. It was enacted to provide statutory recognition to newly established AIIMS-like institutes under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) and to ensure uniform standards of governance, medical education, and healthcare across the country.

Background

The original AIIMS Act of 1956 established the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, as an institution of national importance with the objectives of promoting medical education, research, and high-quality healthcare. Over the decades, it became evident that one AIIMS alone could not meet the growing healthcare needs of India’s vast population.
To correct regional disparities in tertiary healthcare and to promote medical research in underserved regions, the Government of India launched the PMSSY scheme, which proposed the creation of several new AIIMS-like institutions in different states. However, these institutes lacked a formal legal status under the 1956 Act. To address this, the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2012 was introduced and subsequently enacted into law.

Objectives of the Amendment

The Amendment aimed to:

• Grant statutory authority and national importance status to newly established AIIMS-like institutions.
• Ensure parity in standards of education, governance, and autonomy with AIIMS, New Delhi.
• Legally empower the Central Government to create new AIIMS institutes through notification.
• Strengthen healthcare infrastructure and human resource development in medical science throughout India.

Major Provisions of the Amendment

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Act, 2012 made several significant modifications to the principal Act of 1956:

• Pluralisation of Title: The title and wording of the Act were amended to replace the singular “Institute” with the plural “Institutes,” formally recognising the establishment of multiple AIIMS institutions.
• Definition Expansion: The Amendment introduced new definitions, distinguishing between:
  • Existing Institute — referring to AIIMS, New Delhi.
  • Corresponding Institutes — the six new AIIMS-like institutions established under the PMSSY scheme.
  • Other Institutes — any future AIIMS institutes that the Central Government may establish by notification.
• Power to Establish New Institutes: The Central Government was authorised to establish additional AIIMS institutes anywhere in India through official notification, thereby allowing the network to expand according to healthcare priorities.
• Institution of National Importance: The amendment declared that each AIIMS—existing, corresponding, or newly established—would hold the status of an Institution of National Importance, placing them on par with AIIMS Delhi.
• Governance and Administration: The Act provided for uniform administrative structures across all AIIMS institutes. Each institute would have a Governing Body, President, Director, and other statutory authorities similar to those at AIIMS Delhi. The wording of several sections was modified to accommodate multiple institutes within the same legislative framework.
• Location and Jurisdiction: The Act specified that while the original AIIMS would remain in New Delhi, the newly declared institutes were to be located in Patna, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Raipur, and Rishikesh. The Central Government was further empowered to determine the locations of future institutes as required.

Legislative Journey

The All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2012 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 27 August 2012, passed on 30 August 2012, and approved by the Rajya Sabha on 4 September 2012. It received Presidential assent shortly thereafter and came into force retrospectively from 16 July 2012, replacing an ordinance previously issued to operationalise the new AIIMS institutes.

Impact and Implementation

The enactment of this Amendment Act enabled the government to grant legal status and autonomy to the six newly established AIIMS institutions. Each of these institutes began functioning with the mandate to:

• Provide high-quality tertiary healthcare to underserved regions.
• Offer medical education and training equivalent to the standards of AIIMS Delhi.
• Promote biomedical research and advanced medical technology.
• Serve as referral centres for complex and specialised healthcare.

This legislative reform also streamlined the governance of the new institutions, ensuring consistency in recruitment, curriculum, and management policies.

Significance

The AIIMS (Amendment) Act, 2012 marked a milestone in India’s public health policy and medical education reform. Its significance lies in:

• Decentralisation of Medical Excellence: The expansion of AIIMS institutions brought specialised healthcare closer to regional populations, reducing dependence on metropolitan hospitals.
• Uniform Standards: By extending the legal framework of the 1956 Act, all AIIMS institutes were governed under a common structure, ensuring uniform standards in training, research, and service delivery.
• Strengthening of National Health Infrastructure: The amendment contributed to addressing the shortage of qualified medical professionals and improving access to advanced healthcare across India.
• Promotion of Research and Innovation: Each institute was envisioned as a hub for clinical and biomedical research, facilitating innovation and collaboration at a national level.

Challenges in Implementation

While the Amendment successfully institutionalised multiple AIIMS, its implementation faced several practical challenges:

• Infrastructure Delays: Construction and operational readiness of the new institutes took longer than expected.
• Faculty Recruitment: Shortages of qualified doctors and medical faculty delayed full-scale academic and clinical operations.
• Regional Disparities: Variations in local administrative efficiency and healthcare conditions affected the pace of institutional development.