Concerns over faculty retention at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, have come into renewed focus after the Central Government informed Parliament that 58 faculty members resigned from the institute between April 2018 and July 2025. The departures include Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Additional Professors, raising fresh questions about workforce sustainability at India’s premier government medical institution.

The information was shared in an official written reply by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare during the ongoing Parliamentary session.

Six Faculty Members Took Voluntary Retirement in 2025

According to the government’s response, six senior faculty members opted for Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) in 2025, citing personal reasons. The Ministry clarified that these retirements were individual decisions and were not linked to any institutional policy or administrative issue.

However, the overall number of resignations has sparked discussions around faculty retention, career advancement opportunities, increasing workload, and the migration of experienced specialists to other government institutions and the private healthcare sector.

Where Did the Faculty Members Go?

The Parliamentary data provides insight into the career movements of the faculty members who resigned from AIIMS New Delhi:

• 11 faculty members joined other AIIMS institutions across the country.
• 10 faculty members moved to other government medical institutions, including the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), New Delhi, and PGIMER, Chandigarh.
• The remaining faculty members cited personal reasons for their resignation.

The government did not indicate any evidence suggesting that these departures were due to dissatisfaction with institutional functioning.

Faculty Retention Challenges Extend Beyond AIIMS Delhi

The issue is not limited to AIIMS New Delhi alone.

Earlier data presented in Parliament revealed that 429 doctors resigned from 20 AIIMS institutions across India between 2022 and 2024. Among all AIIMS campuses, AIIMS New Delhi recorded the highest number of resignations, highlighting broader challenges in retaining medical professionals within India’s apex government healthcare institutions.

The figures have renewed attention on the need for long-term workforce planning and effective retention strategies across the expanding AIIMS network.

Why Faculty Retention Matters

Healthcare experts emphasize that retaining experienced faculty is essential for maintaining excellence in:

• Patient care
• Undergraduate and postgraduate medical education
• Clinical research and innovation
• Specialist and super-specialist training
• Academic mentorship and institutional development

With AIIMS institutions continuing to manage rising patient volumes and expanding academic responsibilities, faculty stability remains a key factor in ensuring quality healthcare delivery and strengthening India’s public health system.

Government’s Position

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has stated that the resignations have not disrupted healthcare services at AIIMS New Delhi. Nevertheless, the Parliamentary disclosures have intensified discussions on improving faculty recruitment, career progression, retention policies, and workforce planning to meet the country’s growing healthcare needs.

As India’s healthcare infrastructure continues to expand, experts believe that strengthening the public medical workforce will be crucial to sustaining high standards of clinical care, education, and research in the years ahead.