AIIMS Delhi, PGI Chandigarh extend tenures for SR, JRs and fellows

Delhi: As the number of COVID-19 cases is increasing day by day, the need for having more trained doctors has also hiked up. Considering this, the authorities at AIIMS Delhi have decided to increase the tenure of senior, junior resident doctors and fellows for three months. Meanwhile, PGIMER has taken a similar decision, however, at PGI the extension is for 1 month.

The step aims to ensure a sufficient number of doctors are available to tend to the COVID affected patients. AIIMS Delhi has issued a memorandum stating the same on June 23rd, 2020, further informing that the doctors can seek relief when the next appointee arrives.

The announcement comes after the decision was taken in an academic committee's 119th meeting on 19th February 2020 where AIIMS administration decided on the extension of tenure by 3 months of all resident doctors and fellows who are expected to finish their tenure in the current session. 

ALSO READ: AIIMS PG July 2020 Entrance Examination Results declared; details

There are many Junior and senior resident doctors in the present batch and this decision of the government might be helpful in handling the shortage crisis of health workers during the COVID-19 epidemic.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences has mentioned in the memo that "in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is a need of trained doctors for providing patient care services at AIIMS New Delhi which has a large number of COVID-19 patients." 

The authority of AIIMS, Delhi, has given a number of instructions in their memorandum regarding the extension of the tenure of senior doctors.

1. The tenure of all Jrs and Srs (academic and non-academic) and fellows whose tenure ends in the current session, will be extended by a period of 3 months.

2. During this extension period, all existing rules applicable to the appointment will continue to apply.

3. Residents and fellows may seek relief from this extension if a new appointee has joined in their position or for joining another Academy course for which they have been selected on a case to case basis depending on the approval of the Dean.

4. The salary and other benefits will continue to be paid for their extinction period on the same rules as are applicable for their original appointment.

5. The order will not apply to sponsored or foreign national students.

Meanwhile, PGI Chandigarh has also issued a similar order on the lines of AIIMS to help to maintain the workforce amid the outbreak. The tenure of senior residents will be extended for a month on the lines of AIIMS, Delhi. If junior residents do not join by next month, the old batch will be retained for a while.

 
 "We are considering this extension for senior residents here. In case junior residents do not join by next month, we have a viable option for their extension on the lines of AIIMS," PGI director Prof Jagat Ram told TOI. There are around 150 junior residents and 100 senior residents in the present batch.