AIIMS New Delhi is handling an average outpatient footfall of around 14,000 to 15,000 patients a day, placing significant pressure on one of India's largest public healthcare institutions. A senior doctor noted that patient numbers are generally higher on Mondays and Thursdays, although the daily footfall varies. The scale of demand has also raised concerns over waiting periods for patients seeking specialised treatment, particularly those who depend on subsidised public healthcare.

The pressure on the institution is reflected in its 2024-25 annual report, which records 48,43,572 outpatient visits and 3,61,236 admissions across the AIIMS-New Delhi network and its centres. The institution also recorded 2,57,451 surgeries and procedures during the year, with bed occupancy at about 83 per cent and an average hospital stay of 9.6 days. The main hospital alone recorded 22,68,551 visits to its general OPD, specialty clinics and emergency department, along with 1,42,383 surgical procedures.

The issue of waiting times has gained attention following the death of 15-year-old Tanvi from Rajasthan. Her parents alleged that the date for surgery to treat her congenital heart condition was repeatedly changed and that the procedure was never carried out. Tanvi had been visiting AIIMS for 13 years and was being evaluated for a possible heart-lung transplant before her death. AIIMS maintained that surgery was not performed because doctors had determined that it was not medically feasible and recommended medical management instead.

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Doctors at AIIMS have highlighted that waiting periods can vary considerably depending on the patient's condition, investigations and complexity of treatment. A single major procedure can require multiple specialists, with surgical teams spending several hours in operating theatres before attending to post-operative rounds and other patients. The institution has also introduced measures aimed at reducing delays, including an initiative to shorten waiting times for common cancer surgeries and expanded services at the National Cancer Institute for complex oncological procedures and diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy.

The capacity challenge extends beyond patient appointments and surgeries. A Parliamentary Standing Committee report on the working of AIIMS New Delhi, presented on March 18, 2026, highlighted substantial manpower shortages, including 452 vacant faculty posts and around 750 vacant resident-doctor positions. The report also noted that AIIMS handles more than 1,000 surgeries and over 3,000 radiology procedures daily, while its laboratories conduct more than two lakh tests each day. The institution has 4,178 beds, 433 ICU beds, 112 major operation theatres and 44 minor operation theatres, although the report noted that 26 major OTs and 81 ICU beds were non-functional.

The Parliamentary Committee noted that demand for services at AIIMS continues to exceed available capacity, with waiting periods for some complex specialties, including neurosurgery, extending for years. AIIMS has been expanding bed capacity and post-operative facilities, operating diagnostic services around the clock and working to improve operation theatre utilisation and planning. For patients seeking specialised care, however, the combination of high demand, staffing gaps and limited infrastructure continues to make timely access a major challenge at the country's premier public medical institution.

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