Patients Allegedly Directed to Private Vendor for Costly Brain Implants, Raising Human Rights Concerns
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, over serious allegations that doctors at the premier institute violated procurement guidelines and directed patients to purchase expensive brain implants from a private vendor. The Commission has demanded an action-taken report within 15 days.
The action comes in response to a formal complaint filed by the Sahyadri Rights Forum, a non-governmental organization, which accused AIIMS doctors of bypassing institutional procurement processes that are intended to protect patients from undue financial burden.
According to the complaint, doctors from the AIIMS neuroradiology department allegedly gave patients or their attendants the contact details of a private vendor and asked them to purchase a flow diverter — a device used in treating brain vessel disorders — directly, instead of using hospital-supplied stock.
A June 2 report cited by the complainant revealed that these devices were sold to AIIMS patients for Rs 5.95 lakh plus taxes, whereas a similar government hospital, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute in Thiruvananthapuram, procured the same product in 2023 for Rs 4.75 lakh plus taxes — a significant price difference despite both having an MRP of Rs 11.90 lakh.
NHRC, in its communication to the AIIMS Director and Medical Superintendent, stated:
“The allegations made in the complaint prima facie seem to be serious violations of the human rights of the victims.”
In its plea, the Sahyadri Rights Forum urged the NHRC to carry out a detailed probe, compensate the affected patients, and hold the responsible individuals accountable.
A faculty member at AIIMS, speaking anonymously, noted that the pricing gap could breach the “fall clause” — a rule mandating consistent pricing across government institutions.
Interestingly, concerns about these irregularities were reportedly raised by some faculty members as early as 2024. One such member had warned authorities that referring patients to private vendors could subject them to financial exploitation.
In a bid to improve transparency, AIIMS had previously announced in 2023 the creation of a centralised procurement system, replacing its earlier decentralised model. The move was aimed at reducing discrepancies and standardising medical supply procurement across departments.
The NHRC is now awaiting AIIMS Delhi’s detailed response and investigation findings within the stipulated 15-day period.
