Lt Gen Ashok Jindal, Executive Director and CEO of AIIMS Raipur, emphasises that ‘care with compassion’ has been the guiding principle of India’s premier medical institution. Since taking charge of AIIMS Raipur nine months ago, Jindal is committed to providing the best healthcare services to the region. He expressed his happiness in being in Chhattisgarh, appreciating the warmth, hard work, and simplicity of its people. Jindal’s illustrious career spans over four decades, with a strong academic background from AFMC Pune and JNU Delhi. His contributions to healthcare have been widely recognised, earning him prestigious awards like the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, and Yuddh Seva Medal.

 

He has held various leadership roles, including professor at AFMC Pune and Army College of Medical Sciences, Delhi, and served as a UN peacekeeper in Cambodia. Speaking to ‘The Hitavada’, Jindal expressed his pride in leading a dedicated team at AIIMS Raipur and acknowledged the challenge of maintaining the institution’s reputation while catering to nearly 5,000 daily OPD patients and hundreds in trauma and emergency care. AIIMS Raipur serves not only Chhattisgarh but also patients from Maharashtra, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, with a focus on delivering high-quality treatment. Jindal emphasised that caring for the poorest patients is a noble service to humanity. Specialising in community medicine, industrial health, and research, Jindal noted AIIMS Raipur’s active collaborations with public and private institutions across India for research and clinical trials. In partnership with IIT Bhilai, the institution is developing an AI tool for early heart attack detection.

 

AIIMS Raipur has also established centres of excellence in every district of Chhattisgarh to address malnutrition, with a focus on educating mothers. Ongoing research in Supewada aims to investigate the causes of prevalent kidney diseases, which Jindal hopes will lead to effective solutions. Reflecting on the medical profession post-Covid, Jindal highlighted the resilience shown by doctors, paramedics, and staff, who made immense sacrifices to treat patients without endangering their own families. AIIMS Raipur treated the second-highest number of Covid-19 patients in India, according to ICMR data. Addressing the shortage of super-specialists at AIIMS Raipur, Jindal acknowledged that more lucrative opportunities elsewhere and locational challenges have posed recruitment difficulties. However, the institution is working diligently to address these gaps, having already announced several vacancies. In its quest to become a top-tier care facility, AIIMS Raipur has inaugurated a second cath lab and plans to introduce robotic surgery soon. The hospital is also fast-tracking the establishment of a critical care unit and is planning a state-of-the-art burn unit. A new cancer care centre, dental care facilities, and a centre of excellence are also on the horizon, with 60 acres allocated for expansion in Naya Raipur, addressing the space shortage at the current Sarona location. AIIMS Raipur is also enhancing its medical education programs by adopting AIIMS Delhi’s model, providing students with simulation-based training and clinical exposure.

 

Jindal stressed that the goal is not just to train doctors but to develop compassionate, empathetic individuals who can communicate with patients and their families with dignity and care. Jindal believes that loyalty to one’s institution is crucial for its success. Addressing concerns about waiting times at AIIMS Raipur, he acknowledged some delays but assured that emergency, life and limb saving cases are treated without waiting. Plans are underway for a ‘Vishram Sadan’ to accommodate 1,000 people accompanying patients, with the State Government having approved the project in principle. The hospital has also embraced telemedicine and digital health, with plans to leverage ISRO’s services for uninterrupted operations. As a retired defense officer, Jindal recommended returning to the basics for good health. He emphasised the importance of traditional diets, eating before 8 PM, and incorporating age-appropriate exercise. According to Jindal, exercise is a stress-buster and helps prevent ailments. He also advised reducing screen time, striking a balance between work and life, and reading good books for mental well-being.