New Delhi: In a troubling development for India’s top public healthcare institutions, a total of 429 faculty members have resigned from various All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) across the country between 2022 and 2024, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday. Of these, 52 faculty members resigned from AIIMS New Delhi alone — the country’s premier medical institute.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav shared the data in the Rajya Sabha, confirming that the resignations stemmed from both personal and professional reasons. However, the ministry has not conducted a comprehensive analysis to pinpoint specific causes behind this growing trend.
Among the other institutes, AIIMS Rishikesh reported the second-highest number of resignations at 38, followed by AIIMS Raipur (35), AIIMS Bilaspur (32), AIIMS Mangalagiri (30), AIIMS Bhopal (27), and AIIMS Jodhpur (25). Even newer AIIMS campuses haven’t been spared — AIIMS Kalyani and AIIMS Bhatinda each saw 22 faculty exits. Smaller campuses such as those in Madurai, Vijaypur, and Guwahati also experienced faculty losses, though to a lesser extent.
The increasing shift of medical professionals from government-run institutions to the private sector has raised serious concerns about working conditions, compensation, and long-term career prospects at AIIMS facilities. The resignations, particularly from newer AIIMS locations that are still building academic and clinical strength, could undermine the quality of education and patient care.
As AIIMS institutions are central to India’s public healthcare system, both in terms of service delivery and medical education, the steady departure of experienced faculty presents a challenge to their mission. The government’s acknowledgment of professional dissatisfaction highlights the urgent need for strategic interventions to retain top medical talent and sustain public trust in these premier institutions.
A loss of experienced faculty not only impacts teaching and research but also the quality of patient care. Without policy interventions, the trend could intensify, affecting the overall strength of India’s public healthcare framework.
