1364 Faculty Posts, 850 SR Posts, 509 JR Posts Lying Vacant in AIIMS: MOS Health Apprises Parliament

New Delhi:  There are total of 1364 doctor posts lying vacant in new AIIMS, the Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently informed the parliament. The minister also apprised the parliament about the steps taken by the government to address doctor shortage/faculty shortage

The MOS health, Shri Ashwani Kumar Choubey was responding to a question raised by the Lok Sabha Member Shri  AJAY MISRA TENI, who had asked about the shortage of doctors at Various AIIMS across the country.

The said shortage of doctor posts lies in AIIMS at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Mangalagiri, Nagpur and Kalyani. Of the new AIIMS, maximum faculty posts vacant are currently at AIIMS patna with 185 vacancies out of 305 sanctioned posts followed by AIIMS Kalyani with 183 posts out of sanctioned 305 posts are currently lying vacant.

Speaking further about the AIIMS at New Delhi, the Minister informed that at AIIMS New Delhi, 670 faculty doctors are working at present against the sanctioned strength of 1042



The minister further informed about the various advertisements and steps taken by the government to address the doctor shortage at AIIMS

• A total number of 305 posts of various Faculty disciplines have been created for each of six functional AIIMS namely AIIMS at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur and Rishikesh. 183 Faculty posts have been sanctioned for each of the AIIMS at Mangalagiri, Nagpur and Kalyani. Posts of Senior Residents and Junior Residents have been sanctioned for each of the above AIIMS. Recruitment to various positions is done on need basis keeping in view the additional services and facilities planned to be added in the hospitals. Vacant faculty posts are advertised regularly by the Institutes depending on their requirement. However, as high standards have to be maintained in selection, keeping in view the stature of these Institutes of National Importance, all the advertised positions could not be filled up.

• Various positions of Senior Resident and Junior Resident are also advertised and filled up on need basis by the respective AIIMS. To facilitate expeditious filling up of vacancies, separate Standing Selection Committee (SSCs) have been constituted for each of the aforesaid six AIIMS. Also, recruitment exercises are being held periodically in all the six AIIMS. This Ministry has also nominated Institutes of National Importance (such as six AIIMS, PGIMER JIPMER) to provide mentorship to new AIIMS and support them in their recruitment process.

• The upper age limit for direct recruitment against the posts of Professor and Additional Professor in the six AIIMS has been raised from the present 50 years to 58 years. Filling up of vacant Faculty posts in the new AIIMS by taking serving Faculty from Government Medical Colleges/Institutes on deputation basis has also been allowed.

• Contractual engagement of retired Faculty of Government Medical Colleges/Institutes up to 70 years of age has also been allowed to meet the shortage of Faculty in the six new AIIMS. Walk-in-interview for engagement of Faculty on contract basis has also been allowed as a stop gap arrangement.

• OCI card holders have been allowed to be appointed on faculty positions.

• As regards AIIMS New Delhi, 670 faculty doctors are working at present against the sanctioned strength of 1042. Besides faculty doctors, 958 Junior Residents and 1350 Senior Residents are in position for patient care. Also, 56 faculty doctors in the grade of Assistant Professor have been appointed on contract basis. Actions are taken to fill up the posts of doctors as and when required. Total 90 Assistant Professors, 2270 Senior Residents and 2617 Junior residents have been appointed in AIIMS, New Delhi during the last three years.