Delays in the recruitment of doctors and licensing of a blood bank have stalled the launching of the in-patient department (IPD) services at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kalyani even though the infrastructure is ready.

Built on 179 acres in Basantapur of Kalyani, the premier health institute which began functioning on January 27 last year with limited OPD services, requires at least 200 doctors of different disciplines for the smooth running of its 31 departments, apart from a blood bank to conduct major surgeries.

AIIMS Kalyani admitted the first batch of MBBS students in 2019.

The licensing of the blood bank will be made available within June, sources claimed, which would pave the way for the IPD.

At present, the Union health ministry and the apex authority of AIIMS are working to fix the IPD launch date.

At present, AIIMS Kalyani has only 110 doctors, with many departments having one doctor. Hence, the OPD and IPD can’t be run simultaneously, sources said.

“There should be at least five doctors for each department for basic functions,” said a doctor attached to AIIMS Kalyani.

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, who visited AIIMS Kalyani on Tuesday and Wednesday with Bengal health secretary N.S. Nigam, was informed of these problems.

AIIMS Kalyani executive director Ramji Singh claimed recruitment of doctors was on.

Insiders claimed the Prime Minister’s Office directed the health ministry to speed up the recruitment process so that IPD services could start by this year-end, well before Lok Sabha polls.

“We are hopeful that doctor recruitments would be over soon. Once the PMO’s approval comes, full-fledged work will begin,” Singh said.