Six AIIMS-like institutes survive on visiting faculty

Facing acute shortage of academicians, the Union Health Ministry has reached out to medical faculty from abroad and India on contract and deputation basis to teach in the six AIIMS-like institutes in Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Jodhpur, Raipur and Rishikesh. Till March this year, more than half of the required faculty strength of 1,830 was vacant in these institutes which were conceived in 2006. (SEE BOX)

Inviting faculty from abroad and across the country is just one of the measures that the Ministry has taken in the last few months to fill the gap.

“Despite sustained efforts, we are unable to fill up faculty positions on regular basis to the full sanctioned strength, particularly in super specialty branches like cardio, gastroenterology and neuro sector. To overcome the shortage, the new AIIMS-like institutes have been allowed to engage faculty on contract and deputation basis,” said an official from the Ministry.

He said that the scheme of Visiting Faculty has been now been adopted as additional source of faculty.

Engagement of visiting faculty in these institutions will also help imbibe and environment of academic excellence in these institutes.

Under the scheme, professors have been offered Rs 6,000 honorarium per day while it will be Rs 4,000 for additional professor and associate professor. Foreign faculty may be suitably equated with professors/additional professors/ associate professors of the institutes in the country for this purpose, the official added.

Visiting faculty, who have acquired medical degree, recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI), from the five English speaking countries namely, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI) would be allowed to take up assignment as per relevant provisions of the MCI.

The duration of the visit of the visiting faculty may be for a period of four weeks and above and up to two years.

Other measures the Government has taken is to hire retired professors up to the age of 70 years on contract as faculty and posting on deputation basis from institute of national importance and Government medical colleges.

“We are not getting good people because of several reasons. However, we have issued advertisements and hope to fill the vacancy by 55 to 60 per cent by the September end,” the official added. Each AIIMS like institutes have 100 seats for MBBS course.

Talking about the status of construction, he said that by the September end this year, medical colleges, nursing colleges, hospital complex and trauma centre in all the AIIMS like institutes will start function fully. While AIIMS at Bhubaneswar and Raipur will complete by July, the work at the other four will end by August this year.