As many as 11 OPD services were made operational by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, at AIIMS Bhatinda today, in the august presence of Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister for Food Processing Industries. OPD Services that were operationalized for AIIMS Bathinda include General Medicine, Gynae & Obs; General Surgery including consultation in surgical oncology, urology & pediatric surgery, Orthopedic, ENT, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Dental, Basic Radiology (X-Ray, Ultrasound and colour Doppler), Basic Biochemistry & Hematological tests; and medicines at discounted rates through AMRIT pharmacy. Dr Harsh Vardhan also announced that the satellite centre for PGI Chandigarh will come up at Firozpur at a cost of Rs. 450 cr, and this shall be operational by 2022.
While inaugurating the OPD services, Dr Harsh Vardhan stated that AIIMS Bhatinda 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 Cabinet approved the proposal for establishment of AIIMS at Bathinda in Punjab at a cost of Rs 925 crores on 27.07.2016.