Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday emotionally recalled his long struggle to establish an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gorakhpur, stating that it was a journey “from the streets to the Parliament” to fulfil a crucial public healthcare demand of Eastern UP.
Speaking at an event marking AIIMS Gorakhpur’s expansion announcements, CM Yogi highlighted that the foundation and operationalisation of the institute were a result of relentless efforts spanning over two decades, ensuring that people of Purvanchal no longer need to travel to Delhi, Lucknow, or Varanasi for tertiary care.
Long-Standing Demand for AIIMS in Gorakhpur
Eastern Uttar Pradesh, despite being densely populated, historically lacked advanced medical facilities, leading to poor health indicators and high outmigration of critical patients. CM Yogi, then a young MP from Gorakhpur in 1998, raised the AIIMS demand multiple times in Parliament and organised public movements to press for its sanction.
Key Milestones in AIIMS Gorakhpur’s Journey
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2000 | First Parliamentary mention by Yogi Adityanath |
| 2007 | Memorandum submitted to Union Health Ministry |
| 2014 | BJP manifesto included AIIMS Gorakhpur |
| 2016 | Project approved under PMSSY Phase IV |
| 2017 | Foundation stone laid by PM Modi |
| 2019 | Outpatient services began |
| 2021 | Inpatient and surgical services launched |
| 2025 | Announcement of expansion with super-speciality departments |
AIIMS Gorakhpur Key Data
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh |
| Foundation Year | 2017 |
| Operational Since | 2019 |
| Beds | 750 operational; to expand to 1,200 |
| Doctors & Faculty | 210 currently; recruitment for additional 150 underway |
| Annual Patients Served | Over 12 lakh OPD and 1.1 lakh IPD patients (FY25) |
| Medical Courses Offered | MBBS, Nursing, MD, MS, DM, MCh |
| Super Speciality Departments Announced (2025) | Cardio-Thoracic, Neuro Surgery, Medical Oncology, Nephrology, Urology |
Yogi Adityanath’s Speech Highlights
Addressing doctors, faculty, and medical students at AIIMS Gorakhpur, the CM stated:
“This AIIMS is not just a building but the result of public struggles, parliamentary interventions, and the blessings of millions who aspired for quality healthcare. I remember taking out foot marches in Gorakhpur, raising the issue in Parliament again and again, until this dream was fulfilled under PM Modi’s leadership.”
He added that the AIIMS has drastically reduced critical referrals to Delhi or Lucknow and enhanced local treatment success rates, especially in trauma, maternal health, and oncology.
Healthcare Transformation in Eastern UP Post AIIMS Gorakhpur
| Healthcare Metric | Before AIIMS (Pre-2019) | After AIIMS (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Critical patient referrals to Delhi/Lucknow | 28,000 annually | Reduced to 8,500 |
| Maternal mortality ratio (Purvanchal avg.) | 212 per lakh | 147 per lakh |
| Infant mortality rate (Purvanchal avg.) | 54 per 1000 | 38 per 1000 |
| Local availability of tertiary surgeries | <15% | >65% |
| Number of specialist doctors posted | <50 | 210 (currently) |
(Source: UP Health Department Annual Review 2025)
Expansion Plans: AIIMS Gorakhpur 2.0
AIIMS Gorakhpur Director Dr. Pankaj Kumar informed that under Phase II expansion:
- Super-speciality services in Cardio-thoracic surgery, Neuro surgery, Urology, and Medical Oncology will commence by March 2026.
- Bed capacity to increase to 1,200, adding modular ICUs and specialty wards.
- New Research Blocks will focus on Encephalitis, Maternal Health, and Cancer prevalent in Eastern UP and Bihar border areas.
- Recruitment of 150 additional faculty members and specialists has been approved to handle upcoming departments.
Political Significance and Regional Development Impact
The AIIMS has become a flagship success story of CM Yogi’s constituency development model. Analysts note that it serves both healthcare and political optics, with locals crediting him for “making AIIMS a reality” despite the project being under central jurisdiction.
Table: Regional Development Impact Linked to AIIMS
| Sector | Impact Noted |
|---|---|
| Healthcare | Improved tertiary care access, reduced outmigration |
| Education | Attracts students for MBBS, MD, Nursing courses |
| Employment | Generates direct jobs for medical faculty and staff |
| Local Economy | Boosts housing, retail, and services near AIIMS campus |
| Research | Emerging as regional centre for communicable disease studies |
Expert Views
Dr. Anuradha Srivastava (Public Health Expert):
“AIIMS Gorakhpur has improved health indicators significantly. Its expansion into super-speciality care will position it as the apex referral centre for Eastern UP and Bihar border districts.”
Prof. Rajesh Mishra (Political Analyst, Lucknow University):
“Yogi Adityanath leveraging AIIMS as a developmental and political symbol is evident. His emotional narrative of personal struggle resonates deeply in Eastern UP.”
Challenges Ahead
While AIIMS Gorakhpur has made impressive progress, there are operational challenges:
- Shortage of super-specialist faculty, leading to delays in service rollout.
- Retention of trained nurses and technicians, many of whom migrate to metros.
- Infrastructure expansion needs timely budgetary clearances to avoid construction delays.
- Regional connectivity and transport for patients from border districts remains sub-optimal.
CM Yogi’s Closing Remark
Concluding his speech, CM Yogi said:
“I dedicate AIIMS Gorakhpur to the people of Purvanchal. For this AIIMS, I struggled on the streets and in Parliament. Today, every life saved here justifies that struggle.”
Key Takeaways
- AIIMS Gorakhpur was a two-decade demand, achieved through continuous political and public mobilisation.
- The institute has transformed healthcare outcomes in Eastern UP, reducing dependency on distant tertiary hospitals.
- Expansion with new super-speciality departments is set to be completed by 2026.
- CM Yogi Adityanath leverages AIIMS as a symbol of development-focused governance and regional empowerment.
What’s Next?
The UP government and AIIMS administration will finalise expansion tenders by August 2025, with construction of super-speciality blocks starting by October 2025. Recruitment drives for specialist doctors are scheduled from September onwards, aiming to make AIIMS Gorakhpur a comprehensive apex institute for Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Disclaimer
This news article is for informational and editorial purposes only. Statistics are based on official AIIMS Gorakhpur and UP Health Department releases. Readers are advised to consult government sources for final project implementation details.
