The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, a cornerstone of India's medical education and healthcare, has experienced a significant outflow of its senior faculty. Between 2023 and 2025, at least 15 professors and department heads opted for voluntary retirement, many with several years of service remaining. This exodus raises concerns about the institution's operational stability and the future of its patient care.
Reasons Behind the Departures
The departing doctors, many of whom had served AIIMS for decades, cited a range of issues contributing to their decision to leave. These include a perceived disruption of the institution's traditional hierarchy, increasing bureaucratic hurdles, and an overwhelming administrative burden that diverted their focus from patient care and critical research.
Leadership Changes and Hierarchy Concerns
A significant point of contention mentioned by some former faculty members was the appointment of a younger director, Dr. M. Srinivas, in September 2022. Dr. Shiv Kumar Choudhary, former Head of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, who retired in 2024 after 27 years at AIIMS before joining Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, stated that a perceived disruption of seniority contributed to dissatisfaction among long-serving doctors.
"An institution runs on a particular order of seniority. When a new director was appointed, who was much younger than many senior doctors, who had spent their lives at AIIMS, it never settled well," Dr. Choudhary reportedly said.
Other prominent figures who left include Dr. Rajesh Malhotra (Orthopaedics), Dr. M.V. Padma (Neurology), Dr. Balram Bhargava (Cardiology), and Dr. S.V.S. Deo (Surgical Oncology), each having served the institution for nearly three decades or more.
Bureaucracy and Administrative Burden Impact Patient Care
Beyond leadership concerns, many doctors highlighted the growing administrative responsibilities and bureaucratic obstacles as major frustrations. These issues reportedly led to procurement delays, lengthy tender processes, and a significant diversion of time from their primary medical duties.
Dr. Milind Padmakar Hote, a professor in cardiothoracic surgery who also moved to Fortis Escorts Heart Institute after voluntary retirement in 2024, shared a stark account of the impact on patients. He reported that cardiac surgeries were cancelled frequently, leading to waiting lists stretching up to 15 months, and tragically, approximately five percent of patients on these lists died before their scheduled operations.
"It was not just frustrating. It was causing me guilt," Dr. Hote stated, explaining that administrative work consumed up to 60 percent of his working hours. "I am supposed to attend to patients and operate. Why should I be doing this?"
The widening disparity between salaries offered at AIIMS and the lucrative compensation packages available at private hospitals further exacerbated the issue, providing a strong incentive for experienced specialists to seek opportunities elsewhere. The ongoing exodus underscores a critical challenge for India's public healthcare system, as it struggles to retain top medical talent amidst systemic pressures and competitive private sector offers.