In a candid and heartfelt address, a senior NITI Aayog member outlined a transformative vision for India's premier medical institutes, placing community health at their core. Dr Vinod Kumar Paul, Member (Health) of NITI Aayog, spoke directly to young students and faculty at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rae Bareli on Tuesday, marking the institute's seventh foundation day.
The Fourth Pillar: Integrating Public Health
Dr Paul presented a compelling framework for institutions like AIIMS, moving beyond the traditional trio of goals. He declared that the "holy trinity" of education, training, and research must be joined by a fourth, indispensable pillar: public or community health. He argued that without this connection, medical professionals and their institutions remain fundamentally incomplete.
"We shoulder the responsibility of creating public health delivery and prevention models," Dr Paul stated. He stressed the critical need for academic institutions to actively connect with the surrounding health system, such as district hospitals. "Who else, if not the academia, will develop these models? Also, when we develop, the government includes them in policy," he added, highlighting the practical policy impact of such work.
Compassion as a Cornerstone of Care
Dr Paul powerfully linked this public health mission to the essential virtue of compassion in medical practice. He reminded the future doctors that the world-class resources at their disposal are funded by public money, which could have been used for other citizen needs.
"It is for their need of health and education that you have got this system. So always treat them with compassion," he urged. He advised students to never "look at the clock when treating patients" and to set a personal "bar of deep satisfaction." He emphasized that every patient, except those personally known, deserves their best possible attention.
Benchmarking Excellence and Future Goals
Reflecting on the legacy of institutes like AIIMS Delhi and PGI, Dr Paul noted their laudable work culture and stated that the founding batches of new institutions carry a greater responsibility. "They are the ones who create the benchmark," he said, adding that such institutes help integrate excellence into a student's personality. In a personal note, he remarked, "I am nothing but dust if you take out AIIMS from me."
For the second-generation AIIMS in Rae Bareli, Dr Paul set ambitious yet clear targets. He urged the institute to aim for a place among India's top 15 medical institutions by 2030 and break into the top 10 by 2035 in rankings like the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). He called on students, faculty, and management to envision their institution as a medical university on par with global giants like Harvard and Stanford, or the holistic ideals of Shantiniketan.
The address served as both a philosophical guide and a strategic roadmap, challenging one of India's newest AIIMS to build its legacy on the solid foundations of academic excellence, innovative public health models, and unwavering compassionate care.
