Patients requiring treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the capital city are facing prolonged waiting times for surgical interventions. This serious fact has come to light through information obtained via Right to Information (RTI) requests.
Issues with Scheduled Operations
According to RTI responses, patients at AIIMS Delhi may have to wait from three months to two and a half years for orthopedic surgeries. This data was gathered from various hospital surgical departments and provides detailed information on the waiting time for scheduled procedures.
Variations in Waiting Times
While emergency cases are treated immediately, scheduled operations require waiting periods ranging from several weeks to several months. The longest waiting times are recorded in the orthopedic department, reaching from three months to two and a half years. In gynecological oncology, the wait time for outpatient clinic appointments is three to five months, and for cancer-related cases, it is three to four months, while general gynecological cases wait from four to five months. Minor procedures are performed within a month, and Cesarean sections (LSCS) and family planning procedures are carried out without delay.
Other Surgical Specialties
In the department of plastic, reconstructive, and burn surgery, treatment for old deformities takes three to six weeks, and the recovery of old wounds requires two to three weeks. Furthermore, all emergencies and severe burns are admitted immediately without waiting.
Mass Exodus of Doctors
This scandalous fact has emerged against the backdrop of several senior professors and department heads leaving AIIMS Delhi over the past three years. Reports indicate that many doctors left their positions due to administrative hurdles, slow career progression, and more attractive opportunities in the private sector. Recently, renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bhavuk Garg also left AIIMS to work in a private clinic.
Scale of Departures
Data presented to parliament shows that between 2022 and 2024, 429 faculty members left medical institutions across AIIMS nationwide, with the highest number of departures occurring specifically at AIIMS Delhi.