Nearly four out of every 10 sanctioned faculty posts are vacant across 11 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), revealing a significant staffing shortage within India's premier public hospitals, even as patient loads increase. Right to Information (RTI) replies, accessed by the Times of India, indicate that approximately 39%, or 1,600 out of 4,099 faculty positions, remain unfilled, raising concerns about the potential impact on patient care, specialist services, and medical education.
The data, compiled from RTI responses from 11 AIIMS located across different states, highlights a widespread shortage affecting both older, well-established institutions and newer facilities. AIIMS Delhi, the oldest and largest, faces a considerable shortfall, with 524 faculty posts vacant out of a sanctioned strength of 1,306. This shortage impacts critical departments, including medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, paediatrics, neurology, oncology, and emergency care.
Several of the newer AIIMS are experiencing even more severe shortages. AIIMS Jodhpur is the most affected, with 46.7% of its faculty positions vacant, representing 189 out of 405 posts. AIIMS Gorakhpur follows with 45.5% vacancies, and AIIMS Jammu reports a 44.3% shortfall. Over 40% of posts are also vacant at AIIMS Kalyani and AIIMS Bilaspur. AIIMS Nagpur has 137 vacant posts out of 373 sanctioned positions, which amounts to 36.7% vacancies. Other AIIMS institutions are also experiencing significant shortages, although to a lesser extent. AIIMS Bathinda is short of 37.4% of its faculty, AIIMS Raipur 34.8%, AIIMS Bhubaneswar 26%, and AIIMS Bhopal 25.6%.
Health experts caution that prolonged faculty shortages at teaching hospitals can negatively affect outpatient services, surgery schedules, ICU supervision, and the training of medical students, as senior faculty members are forced to manage clinical, academic, and administrative responsibilities simultaneously.
In response to concerns about staffing, Rima Dada, the media cell in-charge at AIIMS Delhi, stated that recruitment efforts are ongoing. Dada said that interviews are being conducted and that the process of filling vacant positions is happening regularly. AIIMS hospitals cater to lakhs of patients annually, with many being referred from district and state hospitals for specialized care. The RTI data highlights a growing disparity between the rapid expansion of infrastructure and the rate of faculty recruitment, raising questions about the capacity of India's leading medical institutions to maintain standards of care and education.
