Lok Nayak Hospital

Lok Nayak Hospital, formerly known as Irwin Hospital, was established on 10 January 1930 within the Central Jail complex during British rule. Initially inaugurated with 350 beds, it was sufficient for the modest population of Delhi at that time. Following India’s independence and the influx of refugees due to partition, the demand for medical care surged, prompting rapid expansion. By the 1950s, the hospital had become one of Northern India's largest and most significant public healthcare institutions. In 1977, the name was officially changed to LNJP Hospital, later becoming Lok Nayak Hospital in 1989, although it remains popularly known as Irwin Hospital.

The hospital now functions as a tertiary referral center, offering advanced medical and surgical services with over 1,597 commissioned beds. It is affiliated with Maulana Azad Medical College and works in close integration with GB Pant Hospital and the GNE Centre for healthcare delivery, teaching, and research. The facility caters to patients not only from Delhi but also from neighboring states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Services like medication, surgeries, and food are provided completely free of cost.

Lok Nayak Hospital is equipped with modern diagnostic and therapeutic infrastructure and is undergoing phased expansion to meet increasing demand. Its departments cover major specialties such as Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, ENT, Gynecology, Neurosurgery, and more. It also offers trauma care, a blood bank, AIDS counseling, and preventive health programs. The hospital upholds a vision of comprehensive, community-oriented healthcare and maintains a strong emphasis on teaching, research, and accessible service delivery.