AIIMS Delhi Doctors accused of sending patients to private vendor for brain implants, flouting procurement norms

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, to investigate a complaint alleging that the doctors at the institute flouted procurement norms and sent patients to buy brain implants from a private vendor. The Commission has sought an action taken report from the institute within 15 days.

NHRC took cognisance of the issue after receiving a complaint in this regard from the Sahyadri Rights Forum, a non-government entity. The forum accused the AIIMS doctors of violating norms that require institutional procurement from approved vendors at regulated costs.

While these norms are in place to shield patients from the medical suppliers, the doctors at the institute allegedly asked the patients to approach a private vendor, thereby exposing them to additional costs.

The complainant referred to a June 2 news report describing how the AIIMS neuroradiology department doctors provided a private vendor's phone number to the patients or their caregivers and instructed them to directly buy a diverter, a stent-like device that is used to treat blood vessel disorders in the brain.

Filing the complaint with the NHRC, the complainant urged the Commission to take urgent action, "including a detailed investigation, compensation for affected patients, and strict punishment for those responsible."

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The Telegraph has reported that, as per the receipts shared by multiple patients or their caregivers, the private vendor charged Rs 595,550 plus taxes per flow diverter from patients at AIIMS between 2022 and 2025.

However, the same device was procured for only Rs 475,000 plus taxes in 2023 by the Central Government Hospital- the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram, as shown in a purchase price list from the hospital, reports The Telegraph. As per the document, both sets of devices had a maximum retail price of Rs 11.90 lakh.

Referring to the complaint, NHRC sent a note to AIIMS Delhi Director and Medical Superintendent, stating, "The allegations made in the complaint prima facie seem to be serious violations of the human rights of the victims."

Accordingly, NHRC has asked AIIMS Delhi to conduct a proper investigation and submit an action-taken report to the Commission within 15 days.

Meanwhile, commenting on the matter, a faculty member, who is familiar with the purchase regulations, said that the price difference between the two government hospitals would contravene the "fall clause," which requires uniform pricing across different government institutes.

As per the news report by The Telegraph, some of the faculty members at AIIMS had been concerned about the patients being sent to the private vendors. In fact, one member had alerted the authorities in this regard back in early 2024 saying that the practice might be exposing patients to additional costs. 

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that, aiming to promote transparency and streamline the functioning of the procurement process, AIIMS Delhi had decided back in 2023 to set up a centralised procurement system. The decentralised procurement system that existed at AIIMS allowed various departments and stores to perform respective procurements as per demand.

Also Read: AIIMS Delhi to establish Centralised Procurement System