AIIMS Struggles: New Institutes Face Doctor Shortages

Many of India's 26 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are struggling significantly, according to public health activist B. Ekbal. Newer institutions, such as those in Rajkot and Guwahati, are largely limited to outpatient services, with surgical departments and inpatient care not yet fully operational. Some, like those in Darbhanga and Awantipora, have barely begun construction.

The primary crisis facing these emerging AIIMS is a severe shortage of doctors. Even in well-established AIIMS, 20% to 30% of positions remain unfilled, leaving newer branches without adequate specialists. Infrastructure gaps are also a major impediment, with essential modern equipment like MRI and PET-CT scanners often taking years to install even after building completion.

Functional referral systems are lacking, leading to overcrowding as patients seek primary care at AIIMS instead of local health centers. This overcrowding, coupled with insufficient accommodation for distant patients and families, hinders both advanced research and specialized treatment. Dr. Ekbal cautions that Kerala, despite its robust public health center network, could face these exact problems if an AIIMS is established in the state.

Despite these concerns, an AIIMS-like institution has long been a goal for Kerala. Any such establishment in the state would undoubtedly be nurtured into a premier clinical and advanced research center.