AIIMS Bhopal Expands High-Tech Care and Digital Access
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhopal, is taking significant strides in modernising patient care. Through the launch of AIIMS Bhopal digital services, patients can now easily access essential hospital functions directly on WhatsApp. Furthermore, this initiative reduces the need for physical visits for routine inquiries.
New WhatsApp Features and AIIMS Bhopal Digital Services
Patients can now access around ten routine hospital services through a single messaging interface. For example, users can book OPD appointments, download laboratory reports, and retrieve discharge summaries seamlessly. Additionally, individuals can link their Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs and obtain birth or death certificates. As a result, the platform significantly reduces hospital queues and administrative friction. Executive Director Dr Narendra Kotwal introduced this 24/7 service to streamline patient navigation across Madhya Pradesh.
Advanced Diagnostics and Specialised Clinical Infrastructure
In addition to digital channels, AIIMS Bhopal is accelerating the setup of advanced therapeutic and diagnostic facilities. For instance, the administration expects to operationalise a PET-CT machine and a Gamma Knife unit by late 2026. Moreover, surgical teams will soon deploy robotic surgery systems to handle complex interventions with minimal invasiveness.
Work is also moving swiftly on expanding the institute's interventional cardiology capacity. By next year, the hospital aims to operate two cardiac catheterisation laboratories, two MRI machines, and two linear accelerators. Consequently, these infrastructure additions will elevate tertiary clinical care for regional patients.
Digital Pathology, PACS, and Non-Invasive Interventions
AIIMS Bhopal is also procuring a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). Therefore, clinicians will soon access radiological images and patient records electronically across all departments. This step forms a core component of the institute's transition to a fully paperless facility.
Furthermore, the administration is establishing a virtual autopsy centre that utilises CT scanning technology. Forensic specialists will examine internal trauma without invasive dissection, particularly aiding medicolegal and accident investigations. Additionally, the institute will install an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) unit within two months to treat urinary calculi non-surgically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What features are available through AIIMS Bhopal WhatsApp Health Services?
Patients can register for OPD appointments, download test reports, access discharge summaries, check bills, and link ABHA health IDs.
Q2: When will the PET-CT and Gamma Knife facilities become operational at AIIMS Bhopal?
Hospital authorities expect both the PET-CT machine and the Gamma Knife radiosurgery facility to become fully operational by late 2026.
Q3: How does the new virtual autopsy centre benefit medicolegal investigations?
The virtual autopsy centre uses advanced CT imaging to detect internal injuries accurately without performing invasive post-mortem dissections.
Medical professionals looking to enhance their diagnostic capabilities can also explore specialized training through advanced clinical imaging programs to stay updated with modern medical technologies.
References
- AIIMS Bhopal expands digi footprint as new specialised facilities take shape - ETHealthworld
- Advanced Nuclear Medicine Facilities at AIIMS Bhopal - Press Information Bureau (PIB)
- Gamma Knife and Specialized Infrastructure Expansion - The Times of India
