India’s premier government medical institutions are grappling with a significant manpower shortage, with thousands of faculty and staff positions lying vacant across the country. The revelation comes even as the National Medical Commission (NMC) has set a six-month deadline to fill vacancies in medical colleges.
Over 19,500 Vacancies Across AIIMS and Central Institutes
According to data presented in the Rajya Sabha by Anupriya Patel, a total of 19,561 faculty and non-faculty posts are currently vacant across 20 functional AIIMS and other central government medical institutions.
Out of 6,297 sanctioned faculty posts in AIIMS, as many as 2,356 remain unfilled. In the non-faculty category, 17,205 vacancies exist out of 58,994 sanctioned posts, highlighting a severe staffing gap.
Institute-Wise Shortages Raise Concern
Several AIIMS institutions are facing acute shortages. At All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi, 446 faculty posts and 2,542 non-faculty posts are vacant.
Newer AIIMS like Madurai and Rajkot show even sharper gaps, with Madurai reporting 113 vacant faculty positions out of 183 sanctioned, and 871 non-faculty vacancies, indicating operational challenges in relatively new setups.
Northeast Institutes Also Affected
The staffing crisis extends to key northeastern institutes as well. At Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, 603 posts are vacant out of 1,866 sanctioned positions.
Similarly, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences has 363 vacancies, while Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Sciences faces 127 vacant posts, a significant proportion of its workforce.
Major Institutions Like JIPMER, PGIMER Not Spared
At Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, 369 positions are vacant, including both technical and non-technical roles.
Meanwhile, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research is dealing with 1,862 vacancies, including 493 technical and 1,369 non-technical posts.
Central Government Hospitals Also Face Staff Gaps
Key Delhi-based hospitals are also affected. At Safdarjung Hospital, there are shortages across doctors, nursing, and paramedical staff.
Institutions like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College also reported significant vacancies, impacting healthcare delivery capacity.
Government Says Recruitment is Ongoing
Responding to concerns, the minister stated that filling vacancies is a continuous process. Recruitment is carried out through agencies like UPSC, SSC, and NTA, depending on the cadre.
She added that exams like the Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE) and AIIMS-led tests such as NORCET and Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) are regularly conducted to streamline hiring.
NMC Sets 6-Month Deadline
The development comes in the backdrop of directions from the National Medical Commission, which has asked states and Union Territories to fill vacant teaching posts within six months.
The directive followed court orders emphasizing urgent action to strengthen medical education and healthcare infrastructure.
Impact on Healthcare Delivery
The large-scale vacancies raise serious concerns about the quality of medical education, patient care, and the functioning of government hospitals. Experts warn that unless recruitment is expedited, the shortage could further strain India’s already burdened public healthcare system.
