Bhubaneswar, Jul 18: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar held its Sixth Convocation Ceremony at the institute's auditorium, where 681 students were awarded degrees. Among them, 193 students received MBBS degrees, while 163 graduates were conferred MD and MS degrees.

The ceremony was attended by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel as the Chief Guest, while Odisha Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling graced the event as the Guest of Honour.

Addressing the gathering, AIIMS Bhubaneswar Director Prof. Ashutosh Biswas said the institute has now emerged as the 10th best medical college in India. Highlighting its achievements, he said the hospital treated over 1.1 million outpatients in the last year, performs around 2,000 surgeries every month, and has successfully completed 100 robotic surgeries.

Prof. Biswas also noted AIIMS Bhubaneswar's growing expertise in organ transplantation. The institute has successfully carried out 76 kidney transplants, 30 bone marrow transplants, and six liver transplants so far. He added that AIIMS Bhubaneswar has been recognised as the top government institution in the country under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. With a focus on service, compassion, and research, the institute aims to become a globally recognised centre of medical excellence, he said.

On the occasion, Odisha Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling announced a series of major healthcare reforms, including the complete digitalisation of the state's health services. He said all government and private hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies, and blood banks across Odisha will soon be integrated with the Arogya 2.0 digital platform.

The registration process for the platform has already begun, and it will be linked with patients' ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) IDs. Citizens will be able to scan and securely store their medical records in DigiLocker, while the AI-powered platform will maintain comprehensive digital health records for every patient.

The Health Minister also announced that the Chief Minister Cancer Arogya Yojana will be launched soon. The scheme, which was announced in the state's current budget, will include 121 treatment packages. The Odisha government will bear the entire cost of the programme through its own budget, ensuring expanded financial support for cancer patients across the state.