After visiting the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Union Health Minister JP Nadda, urging immediate measures to assist patients and their families facing severe hardships outside the hospital.
Expressing concern over their plight, Gandhi highlighted the dire conditions he witnessed, with hundreds of patients and family members forced to endure the bitter winter cold on footpaths and subways.
Lacking access to proper shelter, drinking water, and sanitation, they relied only on thin blankets for warmth. Gandhi emphasized that no one should face such struggles, particularly while battling serious illnesses.
In his letter to the Delhi government, he called for urgent relief measures, including providing heating, bedding, water, and temporary shelters. He also proposed exploring long-term solutions, such as expanding the hospital’s accommodation facilities.
Addressing Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Gandhi underlined the overwhelming burden on AIIMS, a critical institution serving millions who cannot afford private healthcare.
He urged the government to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure, reduce the rising costs of private healthcare, and operationalize new AIIMS facilities across the country to meet increasing demand.
During his visit, Gandhi met patients like Pawan Kumar, whose 13-year-old daughter is battling blood cancer. Kumar lamented delays in treatment, despite arriving in early December.
Gandhi described the scene as “heart-wrenching” in a social media post, noting many patients had traveled from distant states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Assam, spending life savings only to wait months in harsh conditions.
Gandhi called for urgent collaboration between the central and Delhi governments to ease the suffering of patients and their families, advocating both immediate relief and systemic improvements.
If you enjoyed reading this article then please share it and bookmark our website for latest updates.
