AIIMS Rajkot yet to start life-saving cancer and cardiac services

Gujarat’s sole branch of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot is yet to put into use advanced cardiac care equipment worth crores, leaving critical life-saving facilities lying idle.

Medical equipment worth nearly ₹1.5 crore — including advanced machines like brachytherapy, a simulator, and a PET-CT scanner for cancer treatment — continues to lie idle. Even the specially constructed bunker room for therapy remains unused. Concerned over this neglect, complaints have now been lodged with the District Collector.

Meanwhile, Dr Sneha Dhillon has been appointed in charge of cancer treatment at AIIMS, but questions have been raised about her experience and qualifications for the role, with demands rising for an inquiry.

When contacted, AIIMS officials admitted that only the cancer OPD is currently functional, while therapy has not yet begun. The machines have arrived, staff have been appointed, but the installation and activation process is still underway.

According to Civil Hospital sources, the cardiac OPD is currently being managed by a trust, but surgeries, angiographies, and other procedures have been suspended for months due to lack of faculty.