NEW DELHI: There is an exodus of doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country, with as many as 429 resigning from 20 institutes from 2022 to 2024, data shared by the govt with Parliament has revealed. The govt was responding to a question on doctors leaving AIIMS for private jobs.The data showed the maximum number of doctors – 52 – resigned from AIIMS Delhi, which is the parent institution and the most prestigious of all AIIMS. It was followed by 38 resignations at AIIMS Rishikesh, 35 at AIIMS Raipur, 32 at AIIMS Bilaspur and 30 at AIIMS Mangalagiri. The resignations have come at a time when most AIIMS are struggling with a faculty/doctor crisis.

Nearly one out of every three faculty positions was lying vacant across all 20 AIIMS, including Delhi AIIMS, the data showed. Recently, the govt told Parliament in response to another question that provision has been made for hiring on contract basis of retired faculty members – from Institutes of National Importance and govt medical colleges – at the level of professor, additional professor and associate professor in new AIIMS, up to 70 years.In addition to this, the govt said, a visiting faculty scheme has been formulated to allow professors, additional professors and associate professors who are holding academic positions in govt institutions within India or academic institutions outside India, to be visiting faculty in new AIIMS for teaching purposes. However, doctors say further action is needed to stop the brain drain. AIIMS Delhi has 1,306 sanctioned faculty positions. Of these, 462 (35%) are vacant. AIIMS Bhopal has 71 (23%) vacant faculty positions, while AIIMS Bhubaneswar has 103 (31%) vacant positions. The percentage of vacant faculty positions in other AIIMS also ranges between 20% and 35%. Many non-faculty positions, including those of nurses, OT technicians and other crucial staff are also lying vacant.” over the last few years, focus has shifted towards improving the services and often we receive complaints about the lack of ‘protected time’ to carry out research, which is an important reason for the brain drain,” a senior doctor from AIIMS who recently joined the private sector said. The senior doctor added that salaries in the private sector are four to 10 times the salary offered at AIIMS.