Bhubaneswar, Sept. 25: The All-India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, is living up to the age-old adage of prevention is better than cure.

The health care facility is motivating the attendants of patients to get their health status checked while at the hospital.

Several illnesses such as diabetes, coronary artery diseases and chest-related diseases run in the family while some others have to do with one’s lifestyle. Timely detection can lead to prevention of many ailments.

At its screening clinic in the department of community and family medicine, doctors have treated more than 4,000 patients since April. Youths are being advised to save themselves from diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, anxiety, stress and other complications involving kidney and eyes.

Satyananda Nayak, 51, an interior designer and resident of Kalinga Vihar on the city outskirts, took his younger brother, Sanjay, 36, to AIIMS because the latter was suffering from epilepsy.

“I am happy that the AIIMS authorities have started such a novel idea to inculcate the idea of preventive health care among the public and especially those who have a family history of chronic diseases,” he said.

Urmila Champati, 34, a homemaker and diabetic, who visits AIIMS regularly, said: “Many are not aware that even a person in his or her early thirties can have diabetes. So, if they can spare a little time for themselves while attending to patients, they can help themselves.”

AIIMS director Ashok Kumar Mohapatra said: “Departments such as oncology and psychiatry had indoor facilities but we have opened the same for ophthalmology, ENT and dermatology since September 21. The people getting checked themselves at the screening clinic can thus have all other treatments simultaneously.”

Sources said outdoor facilities are also available for paediatrics, general medicine, neurology and gynaecology. From January, two operation theatres have also become functional.

AIIMS hospital is planning to open a “well baby clinic” for special care of newborns once the hospital becomes ready with a labour room and an indoor gynaecology facility.

(From top) Entrance to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, a woman being examined at the hospital and attendants of patients queue up to pay dues. Telegraph pictures

Another clinic with doctors from streams such as ayurveda, yoga, unani, siddha and homoeopathy (AYUSH) is likely to open within a few months’ time. “The hospital now has around 300 beds. But by the end of November, it will have more than 500. In fact, the hospital was planned to have 1,000 beds and the number will be increased in a phased manner,” the director said.

Mohapatra said the lack of doctors has become a major stumbling block and the national institute is yet to get a cardiologist and a nephrology expert. “We hope to get them as soon as possible. Since we are hiring doctors following statutory provisions and private practise is a strict no-no, doctors are unwilling to join here,” he said.