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AIIMS Delhi Seeks New Director Amid Faculty Exodus
27 Oct
Summary
- AIIMS Delhi's interim director's term ends, with a new appointment pending.
- Significant faculty vacancies and senior doctor departures are impacting AIIMS Delhi.
- Parliamentary panel flags non-functional operation theatres and unused beds.
The leadership transition at AIIMS Delhi is imminent as Professor Nikhil Tandon's six-month interim tenure as director is set to conclude on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The search for a permanent director is underway, with the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet overseeing the selection from a pool of over 60 candidates. This critical appointment comes at a time when AIIMS Delhi is grappling with substantial faculty vacancies and a notable exodus of experienced doctors.
Recent data indicates that 436 out of 1,313 sanctioned faculty posts remained unfilled in 2026-27, despite a recruitment drive. The departure of esteemed former department heads, including Dr. Rajesh Malhotra and Dr. Balram Bhargava, along with 15 other senior faculty members who took voluntary retirement or moved to private hospitals between 2023 and 2025, has exacerbated these concerns. Some former faculty cited administrative burdens and lack of professional autonomy as reasons for leaving.
Furthermore, infrastructure utilization remains a pressing issue. A parliamentary panel reported that 26 of 112 major operation theatres and 81 of 433 ICU beds were non-functional as of 2026. Additionally, 843 beds were unutilized, prompting a call for faster implementation of the master plan to alleviate patient load and improve facility management. Limited faculty housing, with only about 250 of 850 members having campus accommodation, adds to the challenges.
