INTRODUCTION



All India Institute of Medical Sciences was established by an Act of Parliament of 1956, as an autonomous  institution of national importance and its objectives and functions were defined. By virtue of this Act, the institute awards its own medical degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions.  The degrees and diplomas awarded by the institute under the All India institute of Medical Sciences Act are recognized medical qualifications for the purpose of the Indian Medical Council Act, are deemed to be included in the first schedule of that act entitling the holders to the same privileges as those attached to the equivalent awards from other universities of India.



The Institute is a residential university in which the faculty members, staff and the students live on campus. There are 8 hostels for undergraduate students (6 for boys and 2 for girls) with a capacity to accommodate 850 students.  There are separate hostels for the postgraduate students.  The hospital has 1560 beds including the beds in Paying wards.



AIIMS



The prime concern of the Institute is to develop patterns of teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education in all the branches so as to demonstrate a high standard of medical education to all medical colleges and allied institutions in India.   The other important objectives of the Institute are to bring together in one place educational facilities of the highest order for the training of personnel in all the important branches of health activities and to attain self-sufficiency

in postgraduate medical education.  The educational principles and practices being adopted here are those which are the best suited to the needs of the country.  Adaptation of education to meet the problems of community health is a major preoccupation.  To this effect the Institute has been trying to initiate a model educational program which is undertaken in the Ballabgarh Community Development Block in collaboration with the Haryana Government.  The Institute has also been able been able to initiate model educational programme in Community Medicine at the urban field practice area in Malviya Nagar, New Delhi.  Emphasis is laid on the active learning process and on the cultivation of scholarly habits and scientific methods.

The  first batch of undergraduate medical students was admitted to the Institute in the year 1956 and since then the Institute has been admitting 50 students every year to the M.B.B.S. Course.  The number of students to this course is kept relatively small to ensure an adequate teacher student ratio.  The undergraduate curriculum is constantly the subject for discussion at the faculty and Staff Council levels and required changes in the curriculum are brought about, off and on  in order to evolve a pattern which is the most suitable for the Indian needs and conditions.



The undergraduate medical students get sufficient impetus for higher studies as the institute provides facilities for postgraduate degrees in almost all the branches of medical  sciences.  At present, the Institute is awarding post-graduate degrees in about 45 different specialization.