During the occasion, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said “Our responsibility doesn’t end by naming the Institute after Atal ji. We have to follow his footsteps and our commitment should reflect his inherent nature and legacy.”

The minister added that this initiative epitomises the political commitment, vision, and guidance from Prime Minister. It not only strengthens the tertiary healthcare in the country but also ensures the availability of healthcare professionals in remote areas by making medical education affordable to the people.

He stated that the government is determined towards achieving New India by 2022, and such initiatives will be the hallmark of that India.

Fondly remembering the former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his first death anniversary, Dr Vardhan stated that Vajpayee was one of those rare leaders who was loved by every section of the society and had the admiration and respect even of his opponents. It was him (Atalji) who recognised the need for major augmentation in the tertiary healthcare facilities in the country as early as 2003.

By Launching the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), a flagship scheme of the government, Vajpayee ji announced setting up of six new AIIMS under the scheme in the year 2003.  He further assured that the Government is committed towards taking healthcare facilities even further. He said it was Atal Ji, who with his pragmatic and visionary approach envisaged the National Health Policy 2002 and have launched Polio and maternal health with the objective of achieving an acceptable standard of good health of the Indian population by decentralising public health system.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) has 100 MBBS seats this year. “It will be a state-of-the-art medical college with reputed faculties and world-class infrastructure. Super Specialty Block has more than 550 beds and the New Resident Doctors’ Hostel has 827-bed units.

 He also laid the foundation stone for the Super Speciality Block and new doctors’ hostel at the Institute in presence of Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS (HFW), Anil Baijal, Lieutenant Governor, GNCT, Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament and Shiv Kumar a long-time associate and companion of Atal Ji. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS (HFW) also paid rich tributes to the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said that he was a visionary leader and loved by everybody

Also present at the function were, Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW), Dr (Prof) V K Tiwari, Director & MS, RML Hospital along with other senior officers from the Ministry and faculty and students from  RML Hospital.