Lok Sabha Question No. 1024 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-22
Subject: Absence of full-time Directors in AIIMS
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Abhishek Banerjee

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1024 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 nd  JULY 2022

## ABSENCE OF FULL-TIME DIRECTORS IN AIIMS

## 1024.   SHRI ABHISHEK BANERJEE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  a  number  of  AIIMS  are  functioning  without  full-time  Directors  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (b) whether his ministry has taken note of the concerns expressed by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare regarding multiple AIIMS being short staffed and if so, the steps taken by the Ministry to address these concerns; and
- (c) if not, reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

- (a): Under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) setting up of 22 new AIIMS has been approved.  Of these, full time Directors/Executive Directors are in place in AIIMS at Jodhpur, Raipur, Nagpur, Kalyani, Mangalagiri, Gorakhpur, Raebareli, Bathinda, Deoghar, Bibinagar, Bilaspur, Vijaypur (Jammu), Madurai and Rajkot. In addition, out of 7 Executive Directors  (ED)  appointed  with  the  approval  of  Appointments  Committee  of  the  Cabinet (ACC) in June, 2022 three have joined in AIIMS at Patna, Rishikesh and Guwahati, while three others have also sent their willingness to join in AIIMS at Bhubaneswar, Bhopal and Darbhanga. The candidate appointed as ED  of AIIMS, Awantipora has expressed unwillingness to join. AIIMS sanctioned at Manethi in Haryana is at a very initial stage.
- (b) to (c): In new AIIMS, recruitment to various positions is done on need basis keeping in view the range of additional services and facilities added. The incumbency position at various AIIMS is  monitored  at  various  levels  and  vacancies  are  advertised  based  on  requirement. However, as high standards have to be maintained in selection, keeping in view the stature of these Institutes of National Importance, all the advertised positions could not be filled up.

Further,  following  facilitating  provisions  have  been  made  by  this  Ministry  and  Central Institute Body (CIB) for augmenting faculty strength in new AIIMS:

i.  Constitution  of  Standing  Selection  Committee  (SSC)  in  each  new  AIIMS  to facilitate expeditious filling up of vacancies.

ii.  The  upper  age  limit  for  direct  recruitment  against  the  posts  of  Professor  and Additional Professor has been raised from 50 years to 58 years.

iii. Filling up of vacant faculty posts in the new AIIMS by taking serving faculty from Government Medical Colleges/Institutes on deputation basis has been allowed.

iv. Contractual engagement of retired faculty of Government Medical Colleges/Institutes up to 70 years of age has also been allowed. Walk-in-interview for engagement of faculty on contract basis has also been allowed.

v. Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holders have been allowed to be appointed on faculty positions.

vi. Visiting faculty scheme in new AIIMS has been formulated to allow national and international faculty to work in new AIIMS for teaching and academic purposes vii.  Down-grading  of  the  posts  of  Additional/Associate  Professor  to  the  level  of Assistant  Professor  has  been  allowed  for  a  fixed  period  by  the  AIIMS  with  the approval of their respective Institute Body.

viii.  Temporary  diversion  has  been  allowed  on  loan  basis  for  faculty  from  one Department to another, which may be filled up on contractual appointment.

ix.  Relaxation  for  Scheduled  Castes  and  Scheduled  Tribes  has  been  allowed  as  per Rules/ Guidelines issued by DoP&T.

x.  Running advertisement with one-year validity  have been allowed to  expedite the recruitment  of  faculty  after  which  fresh  running  or  normal  advertisement  can  be issued again depending upon faculty strength.

xi. Constitution of a sub-committee of the Governing Body of new AIIMS to consider and approve recommendations of the respective Standing Selection Committee.

xii. Centralized recruitment for nursing cadres has been introduced.