According to the new set up, both hospitals will have a director, who will look after the overall work of the hospital and the college, a dean to take care of the academic issues and a sub dean.

The LHMC had sent a proposal to the Ministry about three years back, asking for these posts to be created. The idea was to “delegate powers so that the responsibilities can be diversified”, said Dr G K Sharma, Medical Superintendent and LHMC principal. Soon Safdarjung Hospital too sent a similar proposal. The proposal has now been approved by Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.

While the LHMC was established in 1916, Safdarjung Hospital was set up in 1944 to serve the war victims of the eastern theatre of war during the Second World War. Safdarjung has been a centre for training and teaching postgraduate students since 1962.