As senior doctors from All-India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) continue to join exodus from the venerated institute, AIIMS does not seem to be a dream destination of every doctor and medical professional any longer. This year, already three more doctors have taken voluntary retirement to join private hospital.
Dr Suneeta Mittal, head of department of obstetrics and gynaecology, who initiated the in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer facility at AIIMS, took voluntary retirement after serving for several years at AIIMS.
Also, joining the list are Dr B. Mohanty, associate professor of radiotherapy, and Dr Vinod Raina of medical oncology. It is learnt that all three of them are set to join Fortis healthcare.
As senior doctors leave, the problem of shortage of personnel has only got more acute. According to the recent estimates by the Union health ministry out of the total sanctioned strength of doctors at AIIMS which is 823, only 507 (65 per cent) are in position.
The number of scientists at AIIMS too remain paltry. Of the total 119 sanctioned strength of scientists at the premier institute only, 36 are in position. However, the health ministry does not consider leaving of doctors as brain drain. In his recent reply in the Lok Sabha, Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Only 15 doctors have left the institution on personal grounds in the last three years. The percentage of doctors is so small and negligible that it cannot be termed as brain drain.”