New Delhi: The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has approved the merger of four major government hospitals into a single autonomous, multispeciality institution modeled after the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), according to Health Minister Pankaj Singh. The integration will combine Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI), Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (RGSSH), and the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) under a unified administrative framework. The move aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the Trans-Yamuna region, which serves approximately 6 million residents. The Delhi government will soon issue tenders for the next phase of the project.
LG Approval and Integration Plan
The proposed institution will consolidate the four hospitals, currently located in Dilshad Garden and surrounding areas, into a single entity governed by a new autonomous body. Presently, GTB Hospital is directly managed by the Delhi government and includes the University College of Medical Sciences, while DSCI, RGSSH, and IHBAS operate under separate societies. The integration seeks to eliminate administrative fragmentation and service duplication across the institutions. A senior official stated that existing governing bodies will be dissolved, and a new oversight committee will replace them to manage the merged facility.
The merger also aims to enhance medical education and training by pooling teaching positions across the hospitals, potentially increasing postgraduate medical seats. Infrastructure expansion plans include accommodating more undergraduate MBBS students, while shared academic resources are expected to improve training and research capabilities. The unified structure will follow the AIIMS governance model, ensuring standardized administrative processes and clinical service delivery.
Addressing Fragmentation and Expanding Services
The integration represents a strategic effort to modernize healthcare delivery in east Delhi. By merging the institutions, the government intends to streamline operations and reduce redundancies in service provision. The new entity will operate autonomously while adhering to Delhi government guidelines, enhancing better coordination between clinical and educational functions. Officials emphasized that the merger aligns with broader goals of providing subsidized healthcare services to underserved populations in the region.
Next Steps and Timeline
Despite the Lieutenant Governor’s approval, the merger requires formal clearance from the Delhi Cabinet, a process estimated to take six months. Following cabinet approval, an administrative order will formalize the integration. In the interim, the health department plans to appoint a transactional adviser and infrastructure consultant via tender to assess facility sharing, draft operational rules, and prepare the cabinet note for approval. These consultants will play a critical role in shaping the institutional framework and ensuring smooth implementation of the merger.
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