Faculty shortage at AIIMS Nagpur: HC takes suo motu cognisance, orders PIL

Nagpur: After an RTI application revealed that nearly four out of every 10 sanctioned faculty posts (around 40 percent) remain vacant across 11 AIIMS, including AIIMS Nagpur, where 36.7 percent posts remain unfilled, with 137 out of 373 sanctioned posts lying vacant, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has expressed concern and taken suo motu cognisance of the matter.

Observing that this shortage is adversely affecting healthcare delivery and medical education, the bench directed that the issue be registered as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

Medical Dialogues on January 2 reported that data obtained from RTI applications revealed that AIIMS Nagpur has around 36.7% vacancies, as 137 out of 373 sanctioned posts are lying vacant. It also 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.

Also read- Around 40 percent faculty posts vacant across 11 AIIMS, reveals RTI

RTI replies have revealed that 1,600 out of 4,099 faculty positions are lying vacant, raising concerns about the impact on patient care, specialist services, and medical education. This faculty shortage can be witnessed both at the country's older and established AIIMS, along with the newer institutes.

Taking note of this serious situation, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday stepped in and took suo motu cognisance of the matter. The court observed that such a big-pending shortage of doctors and professors was directly affecting patient care, surgeries, intensive care services, and the overall quality of medical education.

The division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode noted, "Institutions like AIIMS are meant to provide high-quality healthcare to the public and large-scale vacancies involving wider public interest are a matter of serious concern."

Accordingly, the court directed that the news report be treated as a Public Interest Litigation and formally registered as per the TOI media report. Senior counsel and former Chhattisgarh Advocate General JK Gilda was appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court. Advocate Shaunakh Kothekar was asked to prepare and file the petition.

During the hearing, Advocate Mugdha Chandurkar appeared on behalf of the Union government, while Additional Government Pleader Deepak Thakare represented the State government.

The matter is expected to be taken up soon.

However, the shortage of faculty is also severe at other AIIMS institutions. 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 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.

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.

Also read- Is there severe faculty shortage at AIIMS? Vacancies draw concern