AIIMS Raipur hit by doctors' exodus, 40 percent faculty posts vacant
Faculty Shortage
Raipur: Around 35 doctors have left the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Raipur over the past three years, leaving 40% of faculty positions vacant at the premier institute, according to official data.
As a result, the facility is facing a severe shortage of faculty. The reasons behind the doctors' resignations include career advancement opportunities, higher salaries in private hospitals, and spousal postings in other states necessitating transfers.
However, the doctors have largely refused to speak up on this matter directly, which has raised concerns over healthcare delivery at such a premier institute, which witnesses a large number of patient footfalls each day.
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At a time when the hospital requires more doctors, several have already left, disrupting its smooth functioning. To address this, the government has been taking steps to retain doctors. However, healthcare activists warn that unless urgent measures are taken, the staffing shortage could worsen.
Commenting on this, Former Health Minister and Congress leader TS Singh Deo told India Today, "The exodus was a result of multiple factors, including career advancement, higher salaries in private hospitals, and spousal postings in other states."
He also stressed the need to counter the negative perception of Chhattisgarh as a Naxal-affected state, which discourages young doctors from joining AIIMS Raipur.
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that nearly 7 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are grappling with a worsening faculty crisis for more than a year, with vacancies continuing to rise. Fully operational All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across India are seeing a faculty vacancy, including 34% in AIIMS New Delhi, 24% in AIIMS Bhopal, 25% in AIIMS Bhubaneswar, 28% in AIIMS Jodhpur, 38% in AIIMS Raipur, 27% in AIIMS Patna, and 39% in AIIMS Rishikesh.
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, in his statement to the parliament, said that there were faculty shortages at 12 cities where institutions such as the AIIMS were partially operational, including 41% in Mangalagiri, 23% in Nagpur, and 39% in Kalyani.
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