Health Ministry to discuss rotatory headship policy at AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing protests by the faculty members, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has called a meeting to discuss the prolonged delay in implementing the promised rotatory headship system at two premier health institutions- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

The meeting, expected to take place soon, has been called by a high-level committee led by Dr VK Paul of NITI Aayog to discuss the matter. The panel, which also includes former AIIMS director Dr MC Mishra and renowned cardiologist Dr KK Talwar, was formed in 2023 to oversee the rollout of the rotation policy at the country’s top medical institutions.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that a joint letter addressed to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) and the Faculty Association of PGIMER announced the launch of a month-long black badge campaign starting from May 1, 2025, to protest the inaction.

Also read- AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh Faculty on black badge Protest over Delay in Rotatory Headship Policy

Despite a 2023 assurance from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that the rotatory headship system would be operational by June 2024, the faculty associations allege that no concrete steps have been taken. Highlighting the absence of dialogue with the Minister’s office and growing frustration among faculty members, both associations reaffirmed that implementing a rotatory and collegium-based structure is crucial for fair, transparent, and democratic academic governance.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the faculty associations of AIIMS, New Delhi and PGIMER have been demanding rotatory headship for more than a decade now. Countless committees were formed by the Centre in this regard in the past and almost every panel has recommended its implementation in principle.

Of the many committees so far on this issue, one was formed under the chairmanship of Professor V K Bahl, former dean of the AIIMS, to give suggestions on how to implement it. The committee had submitted its report after due consideration and consultation. The implementation and modalities of this administrative reform were discussed deeply and for long and now, it is only left to be implemented.

Now, faculty members at both the institutions staged protests, expressing frustration over the lack of progress despite the policy being cleared last year. They have repeatedly raised concerns about the prolonged delay in implementing the new policy, which the central government had supported in principle. To calm the situation, the Health Ministry has now stepped in and called for a meeting with the committee. 

It is to be noted that the Dr VK Paul-headed committee had earlier recommended that a collegium system be introduced to enable a fair and transparent process of rotation. However, even though it was announced that the new system would begin in June 2024, no concrete steps have been taken so far.

As per officials, the latest meeting is expected to take stock of the situation and lay down a roadmap for the rollout of the rotational headship system.

Currently, department heads at both AIIMS and PGI hold office until the age of 62, a structure that faculty members argue limits opportunities for others to take on administrative leadership roles. 

Speaking to TNIE, a member of the Faculty Association of AIIMS said, "It was formally communicated that the rotatory headship policy would be implemented in AIIMS and PGI Chandigarh from June 2024. Despite this, no tangible steps have been taken toward its enforcement. Multiple rounds of dialogue with the Health Ministry have taken place. However, the Health Minister has not granted us an audience and the matter is being repeatedly deferred without justification."

Also read- AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh Faculty threaten Protest over Delay in Rotatory Headship Policy implementation