Union minister to get six water coolers installed at premier hospital, to form NGO to carry on initiative.
New Delhi: Of late, there has been some respite from the scorching sun for patients and their relatives at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), thanks to a high-profile patient at the premier hospital.
Having spent close to two weeks at AIIMS, Union minister Arun Jaitley, recuperating at the private ward after undergoing a kidney transplant, has asked his personal staff to take care of water and food requirements of patients and their relatives who take refuge in the corridors of the hospital.
Sources said Jaitley has asked his staff to get at least six big water coolers installed at AIIMS as well as regularly distribute bottled water.
“Jaitleyji has asked his people to distribute cold water to the outstation patients as well. His people are distributing small water bottles. Today, they had distributed sharbat (juice) as well,” said a source close to the minister. “The staff also distribute food every second or third day.”
Sources said Jaitley has told his staff to form an NGO by the name ‘Friends of AIIMS’ to maintain the water coolers and ensure that the initiative continues even after he is discharged.
Patients from all kinds of economic backgrounds land up at AIIMS for treatment. Many practically spend days within the hospital premises and are known to struggle to manage food and water.
“There are patients and their relatives lying outside the corridors of AIIMS and on the divider of the main road leading to the hospital. Few even gather resources and manage to cook their food on that narrow divider,” said the source.
All in the family
The senior BJP leader’s wife, Sangeeta, too has become popular among patients at the hospital. Sources say that they come up to her and inquire about the minister’s health. The family has also befriended patients on the floor.
“She too is monitoring the distribution of food and water within the hospital,” the source said. “She is very particular that other patients won’t face any inconvenience because Jaitley is a VIP patient. Even security has been told to take this into consideration.”
The source said that senior party leaders too have been asked to not throng the hospital. They meet Sangeeta at her residence to know about his health.