Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday highlighted the plight of patients and their families who are forced to live on roads, footpaths, and subways near the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, accusing the Central and Delhi governments of failing in their duties.

During his visit, Gandhi interacted with several families who had traveled from different parts of the country seeking medical treatment at AIIMS. He listened to their grievances, which ranged from lack of affordable accommodations to enduring harsh winter conditions in the capital.

"Burden of disease, biting cold, and government insensitivity – today I met patients and their families outside AIIMS who have come from far and wide in search of treatment," Gandhi said in an Instagram post in Hindi. He expressed anguish over the conditions they endure, including sleeping on the cold ground and struggling with hunger while clinging to hope for medical care.

Gandhi further criticized both the Central and Delhi governments, saying, "On their path to get treatment, they are forced to sleep on roads, footpaths, and subways—just keeping a flame of hope burning amidst the cold ground, hunger, and inconveniences. Both the Central and Delhi governments have completely failed in fulfilling their responsibility towards the public."

The Congress leader’s remarks come amidst mounting criticism over the inadequate healthcare infrastructure and lack of affordable lodging facilities for those accompanying patients at premier medical institutions like AIIMS. With AIIMS catering to a significant influx of patients from across India, many of them from economically weaker sections, the lack of support systems has been a long-standing issue.