India’s premier medical network, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), is witnessing a significant exodus of doctors. Between 2022 and 2024, 429 doctors resigned from 20 AIIMS institutes, according to government data shared in Parliament. The resignations, largely for private sector opportunities, have intensified concerns over an already existing faculty shortage.
Delhi AIIMS Leads in Resignations
AIIMS Delhi, the country’s most prestigious and oldest AIIMS, recorded the highest attrition, with 52 doctors resigning. It was followed by AIIMS Rishikesh (38 resignations), AIIMS Raipur (35), AIIMS Bilaspur (32), and AIIMS Mangalagiri (30). This wave of departures comes at a time when most AIIMS branches are grappling with a faculty and doctor crisis.
One in Three Faculty Posts Remain Vacant
As reported by TOI, nearly one-third of all faculty positions across the 20 AIIMS remain unfilled, including at Delhi AIIMS. Data shows Delhi AIIMS has 1,306 sanctioned faculty posts, of which 462 (35%) are vacant. AIIMS Bhopal has 71 vacancies (23%), while AIIMS Bhubaneswar faces 103 vacancies (31%). Other institutes report similar shortages, with vacancy rates ranging from 20% to 35%. The problem is not limited to faculty—critical non-faculty roles, such as nurses, OT technicians, and support staff, are also vacant.
Government Measures to Address the Shortfall
In response, the government has introduced several stopgap measures. These include hiring retired faculty—up to the age of 70—from Institutes of National Importance and government medical colleges on a contract basis. Additionally, a visiting faculty scheme now allows professors, additional professors, and associate professors from Indian government institutions or overseas universities to teach at new AIIMS branches.
Doctors Cite Lack of Research Time and Pay Gap
Despite these measures, doctors argue that more needs to be done to curb the brain drain. A senior doctor who recently left AIIMS for the private sector explained that the shift in institutional focus toward service delivery has eroded “protected time” for research—one of the key attractions of working at AIIMS. Furthermore, private hospitals offer salaries four to ten times higher than those in the public sector, making retention a growing challenge.