AIIMS Delhi Reverses Half-Day Closure Order for Ram Temple Event Following Backlash

New Delhi: Facing criticism from opposition leaders and concerns about patient well-being, Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has reversed its decision to observe a half-day closure on January 22nd in honour of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s consecration ceremony. The initial announcement, made on Saturday, stated that OPD services would be closed until 2:30 pm, prompting questions about potential disruptions to crucial healthcare access.

The revised stance, outlined in an official statement, prioritizes patient care: “The outpatient department shall remain open to attend to patients with appointments in order to prevent any inconvenience to them.” This swift turn-around follows a wave of disapproval from several high-profile figures.

AIIMS, New Delhi clarifies that all clinical services will remain open on 22nd January 2024 to provide seamless and uninterrupted #PatientCare#सर्वेभवन्तुसुखिनः @MoHFW_INDIA @mansukhmandviya #AyushmaanBhav pic.twitter.com/hrg5QltpsY

— AIIMS, New Delhi (@aiims_newdelhi) January 21, 2024

Opposition leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale, voiced strong reservations about the initial closure plan. Chaturvedi’s pointed tweet highlighted the potential consequences for emergency patients, urging them to reschedule appointments past 2 pm due to the planned “time off” for Ram Mandir celebrations. Gokhale’s critique directly challenged the prioritization, suggesting that “the poor and dying can wait” while the government prioritizes “cameras and PR.”