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

New Delhi: Frustrated by the prolonged delay and unfulfilled government promises, faculty members from two of India's premier medical institutes - All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh have launched a joint relay hunger strike from June 1 demanding the implementation of the rotatory headship system.

The strike entered its second day today, with faculty members holding a joint gathering at 1 PM outside the JLN Auditorium at AIIMS New Delhi, marking the official launch of the hunger strike in full public view. The protest, led by participating faculty members, is being held under the banner "Hunger for Justice — Relay for Change."

Associations from both institutions- the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) and the Faculty Association of PGIMER are together protesting the government’s delay in implementing rotatory headship and collegium-based leadership. Earlier, they emphasised that implementing a rotatory and collegium-based structure is crucial for fair, transparent, and democratic academic governance.

Also read- Health Ministry to discuss rotatory headship policy at AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh

These reforms were officially directed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2023, with a deadline set for June 2024. However, even after a year, there has been no action taken, causing growing frustration among the faculty.

A senior member from the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) told Himbumail, "This is not just about headship. It’s about institutional democracy, fairness, and ensuring that power doesn’t stagnate in a few hands." Further, the association have appealed to all stakeholders, faculty, students, alumni, and the public to stand with them in this protest.

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 two premier health institutions- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.

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.

It is to be noted that the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) and the Faculty Association of PGIMER sent a joint letter addressed to Union Health Minister JP Nadda announcing the launch of a month-long black badge campaign from May 1, 2025, to protest the inaction.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the faculty associations of AIIMS, New Delhi and PGIMER have been demanding rotatory headship for more than a decade now. Countless committees were formed by the Centre in this regard in the past, and almost every panel has recommended its implementation in principle.

However, despite years of pushing for these reforms, faculty members have seen no concrete results, prompting them to launch another protest - this time in the form of an indefinite hunger strike.

The joint statement, signed by the Faculty Association of AIIMS (FAIMS) and the PGIMER Faculty Association, underlines that the protest is being carried out in the spirit of constructive reform and not confrontation. This will continue until the Ministry commits to a time-bound implementation roadmap.

Also read- AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh Faculty on black badge Protest over Delay in Rotatory Headship Policy