AIIMS Launches 1,500-Bed 'Ashray' Shelter for Patient Families in Delhi

The hospital provides both private and shared rooms to ensure that those supporting their loved ones have a safe place to stay.

"Our accommodation services span the main hospital, the trauma wing, and the NCI Jhajjar site, offering a variety of room types through an easy-to-use digital booking system," Director AIIMS M Srinivas said.

Launched last winter, AIIMS 'Ashray Night Shelter' has redefined patient care beyond hospital walls; its capacity is to be increased to accommodate more people, as per an official statement.

In a significant step towards strengthening patient-centric healthcare, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, with support from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has operationalised the Ashray facility, an initiative aimed at providing safe shelter, comfort, and dignity to patients and their attendants who otherwise spend nights waiting outside the hospital for outpatient department (OPD) services.

Designed to address the persistent challenge of overcrowding and overnight queues, Ashray ensures that patients are no longer compelled to wait on pavements or hospital premises under difficult conditions. Patients arriving at night are proactively identified and transported to the facility using eco-friendly electric shuttle buses. Upon arrival, each patient is issued a token number in the order of reporting, ensuring that the same sequence is honoured during OPD registration the following day.

The facility provides free food, clean blankets, and access to hygienic toilet facilities for both patients and their attendants, ensuring basic comfort and preserving dignity during their stay. The next morning, patients are transported back to their respective OPDs in electric vehicles, enabling smooth and orderly registration without the stress of early-morning queues.

With a capacity of approximately 250 individuals, the Ashray facility is currently operating at full utilisation, reflecting the strong demand for such support services among patients visiting the country's premier medical institution. Officials indicated that the initiative has already led to a visible reduction in patient discomfort and improved crowd management around OPD registration areas.

AIIMS has also indicated that the facility may be expanded in the future, subject to space availability and rising demand, to accommodate more patients and attendants. By combining compassionate care with sustainable transport solutions and structured patient flow, the Ashray facility stands out as a model intervention in public healthcare delivery. The initiative underscores how thoughtful administrative measures can significantly enhance the patient experience, setting a potential benchmark for hospitals nationwide.

- ANI