Delhi's public healthcare system is poised for a transformative leap, with a series of major infrastructure projects slated for completion by the year 2026. The capital is gearing up to welcome a new outpatient department and critical care facility at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, an advanced super-speciality tower at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, and hundreds of new primary health centres under the central government's flagship scheme.
AIIMS Delhi Expands with New OPD and Critical Care Block
The plans for AIIMS Delhi, the nation's premier tertiary care hospital, are particularly significant. A new OPD building will be constructed adjacent to the existing Rajkumari Amrit Kaur OPD block. This strategic location is intended to serve patients visiting specialised centres within the AIIMS campus, such as the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, the Dr. RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, and the Cardio-Neuro Centre.
A senior official explained that the goal is to consolidate services, so patients consulting multiple specialists do not need to travel back to the main campus. "We want the OPD patients to visit multiple doctors at one place only," the official stated, highlighting a patient-centric approach to reduce inconvenience.
Simultaneously, the institute is progressing with the tendering process for a dedicated critical care block. This facility will be built next to the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center. Officials aim to finalise tenders and begin construction in 2026. The block is designed as a preparedness measure for future pandemic-like scenarios and will be equipped with intensive care units, critical care beds, operation theatres, and obstetric facilities.
In another advancement, AIIMS is launching a robotic surgery training programme for its surgical doctors within the next six months. Two robotic machines have been acquired for this purpose, and training will be conducted using simulations and human cadavers, according to a senior doctor.
RML Hospital's 11-Storey Super-Speciality Addition
At the central government-run RML Hospital, an 11-storey super-speciality block is nearing its launch phase. This new wing promises to significantly enhance treatment capabilities with 18 new operation theatres, advanced ultrasound and MRI machines, and dedicated infrastructure for cancer treatment. A doctor associated with the project confirmed that all these facilities are expected to be operational within the next six months.
Massive Push for Primary Healthcare with Ayushman Arogya Mandir
Beyond the tertiary care giants, the expansion focuses strongly on grassroots healthcare access. The Delhi Health Department is actively working under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative to establish a robust network of primary and sub-health centres across the capital.
The current target involves launching 277 new Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and 400 new sub-health centres. An official noted that the identification of sites for these centres is underway. So far, the city has already seen the inauguration of 123 PHCs and 115 sub-health centres. The long-term vision under the initiative is even more ambitious, aiming for a total of 400 PHCs and 1,139 sub-health centres in Delhi.
This comprehensive upgrade, spanning from world-class super-speciality care to accessible neighbourhood clinics, represents one of the most substantial healthcare infrastructure pushes for Delhi in recent years. By 2026, these projects are expected to alleviate pressure on existing facilities, reduce patient travel time, and provide a more integrated and resilient healthcare ecosystem for the residents of the national capital.
