Recent data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act shows that nearly 40 percent of sanctioned faculty posts remain vacant across 11 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in India. The findings bring attention to staffing levels in institutions that play a central role in public healthcare delivery and medical education. The information was made public in early 2026 through verified RTI responses.
The faculty shortage spans 11 AIIMS institutions, including AIIMS Delhi and several newer AIIMS campuses located across different states. AIIMS Delhi, which serves as the country’s leading referral hospital and academic center, reported over 500 vacant faculty positions out of more than 1,300 sanctioned posts. Other AIIMS campuses, such as those in Jodhpur, Gorakhpur, Jammu, Bathinda, Bhopal, Raipur, Bhubaneswar, and Nagpur, also reported significant gaps, with vacancy rates ranging from approximately 25 percent to nearly 47 percent.
According to RTI disclosures, about 1,600 faculty posts remain unfilled out of roughly 4,100 sanctioned positions across the 11 institutions. These vacancies exist across both clinical and non-clinical departments, including medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, paediatrics, emergency medicine, and super-specialty disciplines. Faculty roles at AIIMS typically involve a combination of patient care, teaching, academic supervision, and administrative responsibilities.
The data became available following RTI applications seeking updated staffing details from AIIMS authorities. The disclosures reflect the status of faculty appointments as reported in official institutional records during late 2025 and early 2026. RTI remains a legally verified mechanism for accessing such information from public institutions.
AIIMS institutions function as tertiary care hospitals, teaching centers, and research hubs. Faculty members supervise clinical services, train undergraduate and postgraduate students, and guide research activities. Persistent vacancies can increase workload for existing staff and may influence service delivery, teaching schedules, and academic supervision. While the RTI data does not assess outcomes, it provides measurable insight into workforce availability within these institutions.
AIIMS authorities, including representatives from AIIMS Delhi, have stated that recruitment processes are ongoing, with interviews and selection procedures being conducted periodically. Faculty recruitment in central institutions follows structured approval and appointment procedures, which may contribute to delays in filling sanctioned posts. However, no consolidated timeline for addressing all vacancies has been publicly announced.
Faculty shortages in AIIMS are not newly reported. Earlier RTI disclosures and parliamentary discussions have also pointed to staffing gaps in both faculty and resident doctor positions across multiple AIIMS campuses. These recurring patterns highlight broader challenges related to recruitment, retention, and administrative processes within public sector medical institutions.
For patients, faculty shortages may affect access to specialized consultations and procedures. For medical students and residents, fewer faculty members can limit supervision and academic interaction. For policymakers, the RTI findings offer verified data to assess workforce planning in institutions that anchor India’s public healthcare and medical education systems.
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