AIIMS Gorakhpur Executive Director Dr. Vibha Dutta hospitalized briefly, highlighting missing cath lab infrastructure

GORAKHPUR —

All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Gorakhpur Executive Director Major General (Retd) Dr. Vibha Dutta was briefly admitted to a private hospital for cardiac evaluation after falling ill on Wednesday, bringing the absence of a functional catheterisation laboratory at the central institution into focus.

Dr. Dutta suddenly lost consciousness on Wednesday and was rushed to the AIIMS emergency ward. While her blood pressure and initial test reports were normal, attending doctors advised a cardiac check-up. Because the institute lacks an operational cath lab, she was transferred by ambulance to a private facility equipped with the required cardiac testing machinery. Examinations at the private hospital subsequently confirmed that her heart test reports were also normal.

Addressing the incident, Dr. Dutta stated that she experienced a sudden spell of dizziness, prompting her to sit down immediately. Medical staff administered treatment, and she confirmed that all diagnostic reports were normal with no underlying health issues.

Her referral to a private hospital has drawn public scrutiny regarding healthcare access and infrastructure at the government-run institute. The development comes shortly after AIIMS Gorakhpur announced that approximately 70 percent of the work required to operationalise its own cath lab has been completed. Institute authorities stated that efforts are underway to complete the remaining requirements, with the facility expected to become operational by December.

Establishing cath lab services is considered a crucial step in strengthening cardiac care infrastructure at AIIMS Gorakhpur. A cath lab, or catheterisation laboratory, is a specialized medical facility used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions, enabling advanced diagnostic and interventional procedures such as angiographies and angioplasties. Once fully functional, the facility is expected to benefit heart patients across Gorakhpur, other districts in Uttar Pradesh, and neighbouring states.

The foundation stone for AIIMS Gorakhpur was laid in 2016, with infrastructure expansion accelerating after 2017. The institute continues to work on scaling up its medical facilities, with the cath lab slated to open in the coming months.