Dr. Dutta’s health suddenly deteriorated, necessitating specific tests to assess her cardiac condition. Such diagnostic procedures require a Cath Lab, a facility that has yet to become functional at AIIMS Gorakhpur. With no other viable option, Dr. Dutta had to be taken to a private hospital equipped with a Cath Lab. Although she returned after the examinations, news spread that the AIIMS Director had to be admitted to a private facility to receive medical care.
A Cath Lab is essential for evaluating the heart and arteries in cases such as heart attacks, arterial blockages, or other cardiovascular conditions. It is used for procedures like angiography and various other diagnostic tests. Furthermore, interventions such as angioplasty (stent placement) and the implantation of pacemakers are also performed in a Cath Lab.
The absence of a critical facility like Cathlab at AIIMS Gorakhpur—an institution that has been operational for years—not only raises serious questions regarding patient care but also casts doubt on the quality of medical education received by those graduating from the institute.
MBBS classes commenced at AIIMS Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, in the 2019-20 academic session, with an initial intake of 50 students. Subsequently, on December 7, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the institute. The first convocation ceremony of AIIMS Gorakhpur took place on June 30, 2025. However, a cath lab facility has yet to become operational at the institute.
An official stated that approximately 70 percent of the work on the cath lab has been completed, and the necessary machinery and equipment are expected to arrive soon. According to media reports, the cath lab at AIIMS could become operational by December of this year.
