AIIMS Delhi Faculty Crisis: An Increasing Concern for India’s Premier Medical School
AIIMS, New Delhi, also often referred to as the very best of India’s medical hub, is under-staffed. As per a recent revelation under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, nearly 35% of the teaching positions at AIIMS Delhi remain vacant, which indicates the extent of the problem. RTI crusader M M Shuja has brought to the notice of the public grievances related to the operational efficiency of the institute, academic standards, and the quality of patient care.
Shocking Data: More than 400 Faculty Positions Are Unfilled
The AIIMS Delhi Faculty Cell has formally replied that, out of the 1,235 sanctioned faculty posts, 430 are currently vacant. Considering the important role of AIIMS Delhi in training future doctors and providing tertiary care, this means that well over one-third of the teaching and research positions at India’s top medical school are vacant.
Recruitment Attempts: Inconsistent and Untrustworthy
The institute’s hiring practices throughout the last few years seem disjointed and inadequate for its requirements:
- Just 110 candidates turned up for interviews for the 172 Assistant Professor posts AIIMS advertised in 2019.
- Just 176 were recruited for the 270 vacancies (nursing professors included) notified in 2021 and 2022.
- Unfortunately, there was no recruitment on a regular faculty scale in 2020, 2023, or the first quarter of 2024, which left a gravely critically deficient position in the teaching field.
This sporadic hiring pattern indicates structural issues with AIIMS Delhi’s recruitment plan and practice.
Why Do Unfilled Positions Persist?
Even with jobs advertised, the failure to fill them indicates deeper structural problems. Among the causes that could be responsible are:
- Attractiveness of the role: Supported as it was by the government, AIIMS salary scales could not match those provided by private hospitals, international agencies, or research institutions.
- Lengthy recruitment processes: In public institutions, administrative red tape commonly leads to procrastination in appointing faculty, motivating applicants to seek quicker substitutes.
- Career stagnation issues: Some professionals find employment in the government academic sector less appealing due to the unavailability of avenues for promotion as well as issues in administration.
- Unbalanced workload: When there are fewer faculty members, existing employees bear more clinical, teaching, and research duties, which can discourage new hires.
Impact on Healthcare and Education
The implications of this faculty shortage are profound and multifaceted:
1. Student Training and Research
AIIMS Delhi trains hundreds of undergraduates, postgraduates, and nursing students annually. A lack of sufficient faculty members:
- Strains the student-to-teacher ratio
- Reduces the time and mentorship available for medical research
- Affects the overall quality of education and examination procedures
2. Patient Care
As a tertiary care center, AIIMS handles a heavy daily patient load. With fewer doctors and specialists available due to unfilled teaching posts (which often double as clinical roles), patient wait times may increase, and the quality of consultations and follow-ups could suffer.
3. Innovation and Research Output
AIIMS has traditionally led the country in medical research, but faculty shortages reduce the time and bandwidth available for academic publications, trials, and studies — an area where India is striving to build global credibility.
Comparison with Other Institutes of AIIMS
The issue may not be unique to AIIMS Delhi. It is as hard to recruit permanent professors as it is to fill senior roles for a number of India’s newer AIIMS colleges. But since Delhi, the flagship, is leading the AIIMS chain, the issue there is particularly alarming.
The Way Forward: Recommendations for Revitalization
To address this crisis, systemic reforms are needed:
- Streamline recruitment: Simplify and digitize the hiring process to reduce time lags.
- Incentivize academia: Offer better pay packages, housing benefits, research grants, and professional development support to attract top talent.
- Transparent vacancy reporting: Regularly update the public and governing bodies on vacancy statuses and recruitment progress.
- Make academic careers aspirational: Improve the image and prestige of medical teaching roles through campaigns and recognition programs.
Conclusion: A Medical Governance Wake-Up Call
The AIIMS Delhi faculty crisis cannot be overlooked. To overlook the human resource basis of India’s best universities may prove to be a grave error at a time when the nation is building its healthcare sector and working towards positioning itself as an international medical hub. The government, Ministry of Health, and AIIMS administration must handle this situation with urgency, transparency, and vision for the long term to maintain and enhance the institute’s legacy.
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Also Read :https://www.aiims.edu/index.php/en