The Bhore Committee report formed by the Ministry of Health pointed out the need of trained personnel and an institution in the field of chest diseases country.
The Directorate of Ministry of Health, Government of India, lodged an application to Sir Maurice Gwyer, the then Vice-Chancellor of University of Delhi, to start a course in chest diseases at the earliest.
In the beginning, the teaching and training facilities of the Lady Hardinge Medical College, Irwin and Silver Jubilee Hospitals in Delhi, were used by the institute.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Deputy Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation stone of the institute on 6 April 1949.
The hospital started working in 1956 but it was inaugurated on 25 October 1957 by the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
[1] The institute is located in the heart of the north campus of the University of Delhi, providing the requisite academic environment.
The institute has over 10,000 books, 23,000 bound journals, and national and international reports in the field of pulmonary disease and allied sciences.
[13] Apart from library and hostel, the institute has an animal house, publication unit, medical photographic studio and a canteen.