(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?
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.