THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 18, 2026

Calling upon young doctors to uphold the highest standards of compassion, ethics and professional excellence, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Anupriya Patel, urged graduating students of AIIMS Bhubaneswar to wear the white coat "with confidence and compassion" as the premier institute conferred degrees on 684 graduates during its 6th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday.

Delivering the Convocation Address, Patel congratulated the graduating students and urged them to dedicate themselves to ethical, compassionate and patient-centric healthcare.

"The white coat is a symbol of trust, responsibility, commitment and immense privilege. Wear it with confidence and compassion," she said.

Highlighting India's remarkable progress in healthcare infrastructure, the Union Minister noted that the number of AIIMS institutions has expanded from seven to 23, significantly strengthening access to quality medical education and healthcare services across the country.

She said that graduates of AIIMS possess a distinctive identity, describing them as "Doctor+" because of the unparalleled exposure they receive through world-class infrastructure, advanced clinical training, research opportunities, expert mentorship and, above all, the values of compassion and empathy imbibed during their education.

Speaking on the Government of India's commitment to accessible and affordable healthcare, Patel highlighted the transformative impact of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in providing financial protection and quality healthcare to millions of beneficiaries.

Drawing attention to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), she stressed that healthcare professionals must prioritise preventive healthcare alongside treatment. She noted that the establishment of 1.84 lakh Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs has significantly strengthened comprehensive primary healthcare delivery across the country.

The Minister also highlighted India's achievement in launching the world's largest population-based screening programme, under which every individual aged 30 years and above is being screened for five major health conditions — diabetes, hypertension, oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer — describing it as a landmark initiative in preventive healthcare.

Emphasising the role of technology in healthcare delivery, Patel underscored the importance of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in building an integrated and digitally empowered healthcare ecosystem.

She further noted the rapid expansion of medical education in India, stating that the country now has 820 medical colleges, nearly 1.29 lakh MBBS seats and around 85,000 postgraduate seats, creating greater opportunities for aspiring medical professionals while strengthening the nation's healthcare workforce.

Commending AIIMS Bhubaneswar for its outstanding contributions to medical education, research and quality patient care, she expressed confidence that the graduating students would make meaningful contributions to India's evolving healthcare landscape.

The ceremony was also attended by Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, Electronics & Information Technology, Government of Odisha, whose presence added further distinction to the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mukesh Mahaling praised AIIMS Bhubaneswar for its pivotal role in strengthening healthcare delivery in Odisha and eastern India. He appreciated the institute's contributions to medical education, specialised healthcare services and research, and extended his best wishes to the graduating students.

The Convocation was formally declared open by Dr. Ashutosh Biswas, Executive Director & CEO, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, with the approval of the Chief Guest. Presenting the Welcome Address and the Institute Progress Report, Dr. Biswas highlighted the institute's achievements in academics, patient care, research, innovation and infrastructure development.

A total of 684 students were conferred degrees during the ceremony, including 192 MBBS, 163 MD/MS, 60 DM/MCh, 17 Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDFs), 4 PhD scholars, 134 B.Sc. (Hons.) Nursing, 75 B.Sc. (Hons.) Paramedical, and 39 M.Sc. Nursing graduates.

Recognising academic excellence, 61 Gold Medals were awarded to 32 meritorious students by the Chief Guest in the presence of the distinguished dignitaries.

Among those present were Dr. Anita Saxena, President, AIIMS Bhubaneswar; Dr. Dillip Kumar Parida, Dean (Academic); and Dr. Sudipta Ranjan Singh, Registrar.

The convocation celebrated not only the academic achievements of the graduating class but also reaffirmed AIIMS Bhubaneswar's growing stature as a centre of excellence committed to producing competent, compassionate and future-ready healthcare professionals.