429 Doctors Resigned from 20 AIIMS Institutions Across the Country in 2022-2024. Delhi AIIMS Most Affected. Lack of Housing, Security, and Facilities are Major Reasons. The Government has Provisioned to Appoint Retired Doctors on Contract.
Delhi: The exodus of doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country is steadily increasing. A total of 429 doctors have resigned from 20 AIIMS institutions from 2022 to 2024. This information was shared in Parliament by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav. The resignations come at a time when AIIMS institutions are already facing a shortage of faculty.
Serious Problem of Vacant Posts in AIIMS
Nearly one in three faculty positions are vacant in all 20 AIIMS institutions, including Delhi AIIMS. Despite new appointments, the institutions continue to need experienced doctors. Recently, the government informed Parliament that a provision has been made to appoint retired faculty from institutions of national importance and government medical colleges at the level of Professor, Additional Professor, and Associate Professor up to the age of 70 on contract in the new AIIMS.
Where Did the Most Resignations Occur?
According to the data, 52 doctors have resigned from Delhi AIIMS, which is the country's most prestigious AIIMS. This is followed by AIIMS Rishikesh with 38, AIIMS Raipur with 35, AIIMS Bilaspur with 32, and AIIMS Mangalagiri with 30 doctors resigning. 27 doctors in AIIMS Bhopal and 25 in AIIMS Jodhpur have left their posts. The situation is no different in the new AIIMS campuses. 22 doctors each have resigned from AIIMS Kalyani (West Bengal) and AIIMS Bathinda (Punjab).
Exodus in Smaller AIIMS Campuses Too
Smaller AIIMS campuses such as Madurai, Vijaypur, and Guwahati have also experienced an exodus of doctors, albeit on a smaller scale. This makes it clear that the problem is not limited to just the larger AIIMS. The lack of faculty is affecting the working capacity of the new institutions and the service to patients.
Reasons for Doctors' Resignations
There are several personal and professional reasons behind doctors resigning. For example, there is a lack of accommodation for staff at AIIMS Raebareli. Lifestyle is affected due to the rural environment and poor connectivity. House Rent Allowance (HRA) is low in Tier-3 cities. Security is also a concern. Problems such as a dispute over nine acres of land and delays in the construction of the boundary wall have inconvenienced the doctors.
In addition, the lack of essential facilities in the new AIIMS campuses is also a major reason. The unavailability of basic amenities such as good schools, shopping complexes, and reliable internet connectivity is prompting doctors to opt for private jobs.
