India’s public healthcare system is placing renewed emphasis on patient-centred services, digital integration and institutional quality as the Union Health Ministry reviews the performance and future plans of two major central government medical institutions in New Delhi.
On 23 October 2026, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda reviewed healthcare services and infrastructure development at ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital. The review examined clinical services, medical education, research, patient-care systems and planned improvements.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: The Union Health Ministry reviewed healthcare services, infrastructure and patient-care improvements at ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital.
Location: New Delhi, India.
Authority/Organisation: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital.
Action Taken: The review assessed clinical performance, quality systems, Ayushman Bharat services, digital health integration and mental-health support.
Impact: The priorities aim to strengthen patient access, service quality and institutional support for healthcare workers and medical students.
Figures presented during the meeting showed that the hospital recorded 19.4 lakh outpatient visits, more than 82,500 inpatient admissions and over 96,600 surgeries and procedures during 2025. The institution currently has 30 clinical and patient-care departments, alongside eight pre-clinical and para-clinical departments.
The review also highlighted the hospital’s achievement of full accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers in 2025. According to the official announcement, Dr RML Hospital became the first central government multi-specialty hospital to achieve this distinction.
Its quality-improvement measures include stronger registration and triage processes, clinical and prescription audits, incident reporting, adverse drug reaction reporting and patient-feedback mechanisms. Such systems are intended to support safer and more consistent patient care.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Large public hospitals serve patients with a wide range of medical needs. Improving registration, triage, prescription practices and patient-feedback systems can help institutions identify service gaps and strengthen accountability. Digital health systems may also reduce paperwork and support more efficient clinical workflows when implemented responsibly. At the same time, patient information must remain protected and digital processes should support—not replace—appropriate clinical judgement. The emphasis on mental well-being is equally relevant. Medical students and healthcare professionals work in demanding environments, and access to support can form an important part of a healthier institutional culture. The reported activity figures demonstrate the scale of the hospital’s workload. They do not, by themselves, establish improvements in waiting times, treatment outcomes or patient satisfaction. Those outcomes would require separate evidence.
The hospital has also expanded its Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana assistance kiosks from one to three. The number of pre-authorisation requests under the scheme rose from 549 in 2022 to 1,516 in 2025, according to the ministry’s review.
Digital healthcare was another key area. The minister called for stronger implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission at the hospital, including compliance measures and wider adoption of electronic prescriptions and other digital health services.
The review also addressed the mental well-being of medical students and faculty. The minister stressed supportive relationships, open communication and sustained mental-health support, recognising that stress can affect academic and professional life.
The hospital regularly conducts mental-health screenings for students and health check-ups for faculty members, the official release said. The minister also encouraged implementation of Project SARATHI at the institution.
These priorities point towards a broader approach to healthcare quality—one that combines clinical services, administrative systems, digital tools and the well-being of people working and studying in medical institutions.
