AIIMS, PGI faculty to stage Dandi March over Rotatory Headship delay

New Delhi: Witnessing no response from the government regarding the implementation of a rotatory headship policy at AIIMS, New Delhi, and PGIMER, Chandigarh, despite recommendations made over two years ago, the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) and the Faculty Association of PGIMER (FA-PGIMER) have announced a peaceful protest march today.

Symbolically termed "Dandi March", the protest will begin at around 5 pm today from AIIMS, New Delhi, to the Prime Minister's Office for an urgent appeal for the implementation of a Rotatory Headship policy at AIIMS, New Delhi.

This protest follows a previous "Paidal March" and meeting with the Health Secretary on August 5, 2025, after which no action was taken on the Rotatory Headship demand.

Also read- Rotatory Headship Policy at AIIMS and PGI still pending: Health Minister tells Parliament

Both faculty associations have urged individuals to "Join the Peaceful, Disciplined, and United March".

Previously, the associations launched a joint hunger strike on June 1. Associations from both institutions- the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) and the Faculty Association of PGIMER protested together against the government’s delay in implementing rotatory headship and collegium-based leadership.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that for more than a decade, the Faculty Association of PGIMER (FA-PGIMER) and the Faculty Association of AIIMS Delhi have been demanding a fixed-term, rotatory headship system at the institute. Countless committees were formed by the Centre in this regard in the past, and almost every panel has recommended its implementation in principle.

Similar recommendations had also been made by the VK Paul Committee. In a survey conducted by the committee, 78% of the PGI and AIIMS Faculty had said yes for the implementation of the rotatory headship in the departments.

Back then, the Ministry had ordered to have a collegium system at these two institutes to take a final call over the rotatory headship issue after one year, i.e. in 2024. Based on the Ministry order, PGIMER and AIIMS had implemented the collegium system in 2023.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has called a meeting to discuss the prolonged delay in implementing the promised rotatory headship system at AIIMS and PGIMER.

The meeting was scheduled with a high-level committee led by Dr VK Paul of NITI Aayog to discuss the matter. The panel, which also includes former AIIMS director Dr MC Mishra and renowned cardiologist Dr KK Talwar, was formed in 2023 to oversee the rollout of the rotation policy at the country’s top medical institutions.

Meanwhile, in the VK Paul committee report, 76% heads of the department have said no to the rotatory headship policy, while 16% have said yes, and 8% have called for an alternative system. 82% professors, 89% additional professors, 78% association professors, and 95% assistant professors had said yes to the rotatory headship policy in the VK Paul report.

Also read- Demanding rotatory headship policy, AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh Faculty begin hunger strike