New AIIMS: Retired doctors to be hired for top positions
Unable to find suitable people to fill top positions at the six new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, Union Health Ministry is looking to hire retired doctors of some of India's premier medical institutes. New AIIMS at Rishikesh, Jodhpur, Bhopal, Raipur, Patna, and Bhubaneshwar aren't yet fully operational owing to the shortage of doctors and faculty; most positions remain vacant. Know more!
Several positions vacant despite two recruitment exercises
Health Ministry wants to hire retired doctors on contract basis as several faculty posts, at the level of additional professors and professors, are vacant. It has been difficult for the new AIIMS to begin out-patient and in-patient services in various specialty and super-specialty disciplines. Retired doctors, of up to 70 years, of reputed institutes like New Delhi AIIMS and PGI-Chandigarh may be employed.
Senior Health Ministry official's statement
The official stated: "We advertised twice. Last year, we advertised 1,300 posts for the AIIMS at Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur, Bhubaneswar, and Rishikesh. Only 300 were selected out of which 200 joined. Most of them were found to be unsuitable for the positions."
High-level committee proposes employment of retired doctors
A high-level committee led by MK Bhan, Former Secretary of Department of Biotechnology, proposed hiring of retired doctors to Union Health Ministry. The committee oversees the governance structure at all the six new AIIMS. To attract the retired doctors, facilities like gross monthly remuneration at par with regular same rank faculty, providing accommodation or compensating for renting the same, etc. have been proposed.
Vacancies at the new AIIMS
Over the past two years, the Jodhpur AIIMS could fill 47% of its vacancies while the one at Bhubaneswar filled up 45% positions and Rishikesh has 43% vacancies filled. Bhopal AIIMS has filled 35% faculty positions, Raipur just 24%, and Patna only 17% vacancies.
