NEW DELHI: Who will head AIIMS Delhi next? With the six-month interim tenure of Professor Nikhil Tandon nearing its end, the appointment of a regular director is being keenly watched amid a senior faculty exodus, persistent vacancies and delays in the institute’s ambitious campus redevelopment plans.An office memorandum dated April 27 assigned Tandon, professor and head of endocrinology and metabolism and dean (academic), the functions of the director for six months or until a regular incumbent was appointed, whichever was earlier. Govt had invited applications for the full-time post by Aug 2. The six-month period is due to end Tuesday.Sources said the applicant pool includes more than 60 candidates, with several highly competent contenders. The selection of the director rests with the appointments committee of the cabinet.The leadership transition comes amid concerns over faculty vacancies and the retention of experienced doctors. AIIMS Delhi has undertaken a major recruitment drive, selecting 214 candidates against 265 faculty posts advertised at its main campus. However, health ministry data presented in Parliament showed that 436 of 1,313 sanctioned faculty posts remained vacant in 2026-27.The exodus includes former department heads Dr Rajesh Malhotra (orthopaedics), who left in June 2023 after 31 years; Dr M V Padma (neurology), in Oct 2023 after 30 years; Dr S V S Deo (surgical oncology), in Feb 2024 after nearly 29 years; Dr Balram Bhargava (cardiology), in April 2024 after over 31 years; and Dr Shiv Kumar Choudhary (cardiothoracic and vascular surgery), who took voluntary retirement in 2024 after 27 years.Sources said 15 senior faculty members took voluntary retirement between 2023 and 2025; at least 13 joined private hospitals.While official records cited personal reasons, some ex-faculty members claimed administrative workload, procurement delays, career progression and professional autonomy.Infrastructure utilisation remains a concern, with a parliamentary panel flagging 26 of 112 major operation theatres and 81 of 433 ICU beds as non-functional. It also found 843 of 4,178 beds unutilised and urged faster implementation of the master plan to ease patient load. Faculty housing is another concern. Only around 250 of 850 faculty members had campus accommodation.The next director is expected to address faculty vacancies, improve retention of doctors, improve existing facilities and take forward infrastructure plans.
