"Since people can't reach AIIMS, will make sure it reaches people": When Sushma Swaraj was determined to set up six AIIMS in India

There's a reason why former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was one of the most loved politicians in the country. We know about her heart-warming gestures that helped to build the bridge between the people and the government. If Sushma Swaraj’s wit, charm, and commitment to duty had won the hearts of netizens, her husband Swaraj Kaushal continues to inspire us through little anecdotes he shares about her after her demise. Taking to social media, he shared one such incident where the former minister was committed to serve her countrymen no matter whether she was part of the ruling party or the opposition party.

 

When the National Democratic Alliance government came to power in 2003, she was given the responsibility of the Union Health Minister. Though her tenure was from January 2003 until May 2004, she successfully set up six All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Bhopal (MP), Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Jodhpur (Rajasthan), Patna (Bihar), Raipur (Chhattisgarh), and Rishikesh (Uttrakhand).

 

When she became the Health Minister, one thing she always worried about was the healthcare system in India. Though AIIMS was there in Delhi, she was concerned about the overburdened AIIMS. It was because there was the enormous patient load it got from all over the country. With this patient load, there were thousands of people sleeping on the roadside because they had a relative admitted in the AIIMS.

 

In the meantime, AIIMS was built over 25 acres of land and it could not be expanded any further. Analyzing the number of patients from each state, she took note of the fact that most patients came were from Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh. At that time, none of these was a BJP ruled state.

 

Speaking on the situation, she said, "Since people cannot reach AIIMS, I will make sure that AIIMS reaches people." When asked where will the money come from and how she will include in the budget, she said "Yes, that is a problem. But this year, I am determined to set up six AIIMS in the country."

 

To achieve this goal as soon as possible for the healthcare of the poor people, she set apart an "AIIMS Hour". During that hour, she dealt with only one subject every day - ‘Six AIIMS in the country.’ She told the Chief Ministers of the respective stated, "You give me 100 acres of land. I will give you AIIMS." She had clearly mentioned that it is not a branch of AIIMS. It is like the same AIIMS built in New Delhi. The only thing that changed was the location.

 

But why 100 acres? She also answered this question. She said, "I want to make an airstrip so that an air ambulance may land in the AIIMS campus itself." Then came the question of the faculty for these AIIMS hospitals. She said, "I am setting up AIIMS in towns with all facilities. With the hospitals built in the towns, eventually, the faculty will come."

 

Somehow, she persuaded Jaswant Singh, then Finance Minister to give her Rs.2,000 Crores for setting the hospitals. Following this, she provided Rs.300 Crs for each AIIMS. Meanwhile, there were whispers going on that there will be mid-term elections. Due to this, she was running against time, getting land from states, and having the stay orders vacated. All of these obstacles started to emerge. It became difficult to do such a job in such a short time. In this situation, even people around asked her, ‘How will you do this?’ Her reply was, "Wo mere Krishna karenge." At such times, she believed, "Problems find their own solutions."

 

In 2004, BJP announced mid-term elections. Lok Sabha was dissolved. The model code of conduct is in operation. But she was not bothered. She was really determined to set up these hospitals to improve and develop the healthcare in India. Prior to this, in the initial stages, addressing a sectoral meeting themed 'Health care -- Making India a Competitive Destination', she had said, "When I leave this room let me carry with my suggestions that we can translate into policy initiatives. When we meet next year, we will not discuss how we can make India a competitive destination in health care, it will be a competitive destination."

 

In no time, all six AIIMS were set up after the land was procured, money was provided, the foundation was laid. Now, all six AIIMS are functioning. These six institutions provided much-needed relief to AIIMS, Delhi as well as for the other people coming all the way to Delhi. This could happen because of Susham Swaraj!

 

BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj breathed her last on the night of August 6 after suffering a cardiac arrest. She had redefined the relationship between the people and the government. Using social media to its fullest as External Affairs minister she had reached out and helped countless Indians stranded in other countries. Often, a single tweet calling for help was enough for her to reach out and provide help in the most difficult of scenarios. India still grieves the demise of a remarkable leader. She was the leader who went away too soon.