AIIMS Kalyani Struggles with Staffing, Operational Beds

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Kalyani, an ambitious healthcare hub in West Bengal, is grappling with significant challenges, including faculty shortages and underutilized bed capacity. Addressing these issues in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health Shri Prataprao Jadhav informed members that 157 out of 259 sanctioned faculty positions at the institute have been filled. To expedite recruitment and bolster operations, the government has introduced centralized hiring systems and flexible staffing solutions.

In response to questions raised by Member of Parliament Shri Jagannath Sarkar, the Minister provided a detailed account of the measures implemented to address these challenges. Among the steps taken are centralized recruitment for nursing staff through the Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET), rolling advertisements for faculty with one-year validity, and short-term contracts or outsourced staffing to fill urgent vacancies.

Operational Bed Capacity and Faculty Recruitment

A primary concern raised in Parliament was the disparity between AIIMS Kalyani’s sanctioned bed capacity and its operational capacity. Although the facility is sanctioned for 960 beds, only 501 are currently functional. The Minister clarified that the government is actively working to bridge this gap by improving staffing levels and expanding facilities.

Faculty recruitment remains a pressing issue, with only 157 out of 259 sanctioned positions currently filled. A critical bottleneck appears to be delays in the issuance of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the West Bengal government for doctors looking to transition from state service to AIIMS Kalyani. On this matter, the Minister emphasized the importance of coordination between the state and central governments to facilitate smoother recruitment processes.

To further streamline faculty hiring, the government has rolled out the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) for non-faculty posts and introduced rolling advertisements. Additionally, short-term contractual engagements and outsourcing are being used to address urgent staffing needs.

M.Sc Nursing Seats and Patient Accessibility

AIIMS Kalyani is also focusing on enhancing educational opportunities. At present, the institute offers six M.Sc Nursing seats: four in Pediatric Nursing and two in Psychiatric Nursing. While expansion of these seats is under consideration, no fixed timeline has been established yet, according to the Minister.

Patient accessibility has also been a focal point of government efforts. Acknowledging concerns about difficulties in securing appointments, AIIMS Kalyani has launched the AIIMS Kalyani Swasthya mobile app, a user-friendly platform that allows patients to schedule appointments conveniently. Additionally, appointments can be booked through a dedicated helpline number. These initiatives aim to reduce waiting times and enhance the patient experience.

Government Initiatives to Overcome Challenges

Several strategic measures have been introduced to fast-track hiring and improve operational efficiency at AIIMS Kalyani. Key steps include:

Centralized Recruitment: Nursing staff are now recruited through NORCET, streamlining the process and ensuring uniform standards.

Rolling Advertisements: Faculty recruitment is conducted on a rolling basis, with advertisements valid for one year.

Short-Term Staffing: Contracts and outsourcing have been deployed to address urgent personnel shortages.

Common Recruitment Examination (CRE): This initiative simplifies the recruitment process for non-faculty positions.

These initiatives are expected to address the staffing and operational bottlenecks currently hindering AIIMS Kalyani’s growth.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)