AIIMS Delhi Surgery Block Performs Over 10,000 Major Surgeries in 2025

The Department of Surgical Disciplines at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has crossed a major milestone by performing over 10,000 major surgical procedures in 2025, setting new benchmarks in the delivery of advanced, affordable, and high-quality public healthcare.

Since its inauguration in 2021, the AIIMS Surgery Block has expanded from five to eight fully functional operating theatres, including a state-of-the-art robotic surgery unit and a dedicated emergency theatre. This expansion has enabled the department to handle a large and diverse surgical caseload while maintaining high standards of patient safety and clinical outcomes.

The Surgery Block currently offers comprehensive surgical care across multiple specialties, including general and gastrointestinal surgery, endocrine, thoracic, colorectal, bariatric, vascular, breast, and complex transplant procedures. These services are delivered using open, laparoscopic, minimally invasive, and robotic techniques, allowing patients to access advanced surgical care under one institutional roof.

A key highlight of the year was the launch of robotic renal transplant surgery, making AIIMS Delhi the first government medical institution in India to offer this advanced procedure. The development marks a significant step towards making cutting-edge transplant technologies accessible within the public healthcare system.

AIIMS Delhi continues to be regarded as a pioneer in transplant surgery in India, with its faculty playing a crucial role in establishing and mentoring transplant programmes across government hospitals nationwide. Its transplant programme remains among the most active in the country, delivering life-saving care while strengthening national healthcare capacity.

In addition to clinical services, the Department of Surgical Disciplines plays a vital role in medical education and workforce development. As the largest surgical teaching department at AIIMS, it provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-specialty training to a large number of resident doctors each year. The department also operates a Surgical Skills and Simulation Laboratory, established in 2006, which has trained surgeons from across India in laparoscopic and minimally invasive techniques.

Commenting on the achievement, Prof. Sunil Chumber, Head of the Department of Surgical Disciplines, AIIMS Delhi, said that performing over 10,000 major surgeries in a year reflects the strength of a publicly funded healthcare system supported by robust infrastructure, skilled manpower, and policy backing. He noted that the mortality rate for major elective surgeries stood at 0.3 percent, while emergency surgery mortality was 7.89 percent, figures comparable to leading hospitals in Europe and North America.

The milestone reinforces AIIMS Delhi’s role as a national referral centre, a training hub for future surgeons, and a cornerstone of India’s public healthcare system, delivering complex care while upholding global standards of safety and excellence.