Around 40 percent faculty posts vacant across 11 AIIMS, reveals RTI
Vacant Post
New Delhi: Data obtained from RTI applications have revealed that nearly four out of every 10 sanctioned faculty posts (around 40 percent) remain vacant across 11 AIIMS.
Therefore, amid the rising patient load, the premier public hospitals across the country are reeling under a shortage of faculty and staff, TOI has reported.
As per the TOI, RTI replies revealed that 1,600 of 4,099 faculty positions are lying vacant. Such a situation raises concerns about the impact on patient care, specialist services, and medical education. Such a faculty shortage can be witnessed both at the country's older and established AIIMS, along with the newer institutes.
The Times of India has reported that at AIIMS Delhi, which is the oldest and largest AIIMS in India and also a national referral centre for complex cases, a total of 524 faculty posts out of 1,306 sanctioned posts are lying vacant across key departments including medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, paediatrics, neurology, oncology, and emergency care.
A similar situation is present at other AIIMS as well. In fact, several newer AIIMS are facing even higher shortages. Among them, AIIMS Jodhpur, which is reportedly operating with 46.7% (189 out of 405) vacant faculty posts, is facing the worst hit.
In the case of AIIMS Gorakhpur, the institute is facing 45.5% vacancies. There is a shortfall of 44.3% at AIIMS Jammu and more than 40% of posts are unfilled at AIIMS Kalyani and AIIMS Bilaspur. AIIMS Nagpur has around 36.7% vacancies as 137 out of 373 sanctioned posts are lying vacant.
Other institutes have comparatively lower vacancies as AIIMS Bathinda is operating with 37.4% shortfall, AIIMS Raipur has 34.8% vacancies, AIIMS Bhubaneswar has 26%, and AIIMS Bhopal has 25.6% vacancies.
Meanwhile, in response to the concerns regarding the vacant faculty positions, Rima Dada, media cell in-charge at AIIMS Delhi, assured that the recruitment process was ongoing.
"Interviews are underway, and the process of filling vacant posts is being carried out regularly," she mentioned.
According to health experts, prolonged faculty shortages at teaching hospitals affect outpatient services, surgery schedules, ICU supervision and the training of undergraduate and postgraduate doctors, as senior faculty juggle clinical, academic and administrative roles.
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