Around one-third Faculty, half of JR positions vacant at AIIMS New Delhi, Details
Shortage of doctors
New Delhi: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has raised serious concerns over the acute staff shortage at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, and several other top hospitals in the national capital. The committee's latest report, tabled in the Rajya Sabha, highlights a critical shortfall in medical and non-medical staff, calling for immediate recruitment measures to ensure quality healthcare services.
Severe Staff Shortages at AIIMS Delhi
The report reveals that AIIMS Delhi, one of India’s premier medical institutions, is operating with significant faculty and non-faculty vacancies, leading to increased workload and long waiting periods for patients.
• Faculty Vacancies: 430 vacant posts, constituting 34.81% of the total sanctioned strength.
• Non-Faculty Vacancies: 2,109 vacant posts, which is 16.29% of the sanctioned strength.
• Senior Resident (Non-Academic): 434 vacancies, accounting for 37.48% of sanctioned posts.
• Junior Resident (Non-Academic): 113 vacancies, making up 46.89% of the sanctioned positions.
• Outsourced Non-Faculty Staff: The hospital currently employs 12,213 outsourced workers to compensate for the staff shortage.
The committee noted:
“The Committee observes that there is significant shortage of staff in the AIIMS in various cadres. The faculty posts have 430 vacancies (34.81% of the sanctioned strength), the non-faculty posts have 2109 vacancies (16.29% of the sanctioned strength), the Sr. Resident (Non-Academic) posts have 434 vacancies (37.48% of the sanctioned strength) and Jr. Resident (Non-Academic) have 113 vacancies (46.89% of the sanctioned strength). In addition to the above, the Department has submitted that there is 12213 outsourced non-faculty staff in the Institute.”
Concerns Over Delayed Recruitment
Despite repeated recommendations, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has not been able to expedite the hiring process. The committee emphasized that delays in recruitment not only burden existing staff but also compromise the quality of healthcare services.
The report states:
“The Committee urges upon the Ministry to prioritize the immediate filling up of all vacant faculty and non-faculty positions. AIIMS should implement a streamlined recruitment process, including targeted outreach and competitive compensation packages, to attract qualified candidates.”
Staff Shortages in Other Delhi Hospitals
Apart from AIIMS, the committee’s findings indicate that several other government hospitals in Delhi are also struggling with staff shortages. The gaps in staffing have led to longer waiting times, reduced patient care quality, and increased workload on available healthcare professionals.
Hospital-Wise Vacancy Breakdown:
Safdarjung Hospital:
• Total sanctioned posts: 7,560
• Appointed: 5,468
• Vacant: 2,092
• Group A vacancies: 32.6%
• Group B vacancies: 87.5%
• Non-gazetted Group B vacancies: 16.5%
• Group C & D vacancies: 35.3%
RML Hospital:
• Total sanctioned posts: 3,460
• Appointed: 2,663
• Vacant: 797
• Overall shortage: 23% of sanctioned posts
Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) - Sucheta Kriplani Hospital:
• Staff shortage: 36%
• OT technicians, radiology technicians, and pharmacy staff shortage: 50%
• Vacancies in neurology and cardiology departments
Kalawati Saran Hospital:
• Overall staff shortage: 18%
The report recommended: “To address this, the Committee recommends that the Government should promptly fill up all vacant positions to ensure adequate staffing.”
Call for a New AIIMS in NCR
Recognizing the growing patient load at AIIMS Delhi, the committee has also recommended setting up another AIIMS-like institution in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The report states:
“Keeping in view the fact of long waiting time for urgent treatment of even critical patients, the Committee desires that Department should explore the possibilities of construction of another AIIMS in NCR region close to New Delhi.”
Committee’s Recommendations
To address the crisis, the committee has made several key recommendations:
• Expedited Recruitment: The Ministry should streamline the hiring process and ensure that vacant positions are filled without unnecessary delays.
• Competitive Compensation: AIIMS and other government hospitals should offer attractive salary packages and incentives to retain and attract talent.
• Outreach Initiatives: Proactive recruitment drives should be conducted to fill vacancies in specialized medical fields.
• Infrastructure Expansion: The government should invest in expanding existing hospitals and constructing new medical institutions to accommodate increasing patient loads.
