Staff Shortages and Operational Strain
New Delhi – The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India’s most prestigious hospital and research center, is facing a severe crisis due to acute shortages of doctors and faculty members. A recent parliamentary standing committee report reveals 430 vacant doctor positions and 2,109 unfilled faculty posts, highlighting a staffing crisis that threatens the institution’s efficiency.
AIIMS currently relies on 12,213 outsourced non-faculty staff, but even with this workforce, patient care is severely overburdened. Despite these challenges, only 82% of the allocated budget was utilized by January 2025, indicating inefficiencies in resource management.
Proposed Solutions and Government Response
To ease the strain on AIIMS Delhi, the parliamentary committee has suggested establishing a second AIIMS facility near the capital. It also recommended better salary structures to attract and retain medical professionals.
Acknowledging the crisis, the government increased AIIMS Delhi’s annual budget by 15% to ₹5,200 crore, up from ₹4,523 crore. This funding is primarily designated for new equipment, infrastructure development, and operational costs. AIIMS currently has approximately 3,200 beds, but increasing patient inflow continues to stretch its capacity.
Healthcare Challenges: A System in Need of Repair
The AIIMS crisis underscores broader challenges in India’s public healthcare system:
- Extended waiting times: Surgeries at AIIMS have waiting periods ranging from 2.5 to 34 months.
- Limited doctor consultation time: OPD patients reportedly get only 4 to 9 minutes with doctors.
- VIP vs. common citizen disparity: While influential figures access AIIMS services swiftly, the general public often waits months for appointments.
- Brain drain: Despite AIIMS producing top medical graduates, many move abroad for better opportunities, exacerbating domestic shortages.
Global Comparisons and the Need for Reform
A strong healthcare system is vital for economic growth. According to a 2020 McKinsey report, poor healthcare infrastructure results in a 15% annual GDP loss.
While global models like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York showcase efficient operations—reporting $7.3 billion in revenue in 2023—India still ranks 145th out of 195 countries in The Lancet’s Global Burden of Disease Study. However, India’s Healthcare Access and Quality Index has improved from 44.8 in 2015 to 67.3 in 2020, signaling progress.
The Road Ahead: Revitalizing AIIMS
Founded in 1956, AIIMS Delhi once stood as a symbol of medical excellence. Today, it is burdened by staff shortages, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and inadequate patient care. Strengthening AIIMS is not just about preserving an institution—it is a critical step toward ensuring accessible, high-quality healthcare for India’s 1.4 billion citizens.
