BHUBANESWAR: Delay in recruitment of faculty is hurting the development of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, which had set eyes on operationalising Super Speciality departments this year.
Already running behind schedule, the premier medical institution had targeted to open some key super speciality units this year. The institution has been gradually expanding its bed strength and aims to take it to 350 by August 15.
However, with the super speciality disciplines, which form the very basis of AIIMS, not making any forward movement, authorities of the institute have pinned their hopes on Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan’s visit on July 18. The Minister is set to conduct a review of the progress work during his three-day visit to Odisha.
According to sources, the recruitment process has not picked up due to various factors since the first advertisement for appointment to various super speciality and speciality posts was published in December last year.
While in many cases, the eligibility of the candidates was not found to be up to the standards that AIIMS, Bhubaneswar sought, issue like reservation also posed a major hindrance.
The subsequent General and Assembly elections halted further progress in the matter.
“A fresh Governing Council of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar is to be formed with the new Health Minister at its helm. We expect that the Minister will expedite steps to form the Committee and accelerate the process to appoint the much-needed faculty to kick-start the institution in the earnest,” said a senior official.
The officials have now targeted to operationalise Super Speciality wings by December as the entire process from fresh advertisement to selection and appointment will take three to four months.
The AIIMS Hospital has a sanctioned faculty strength of 350 of which 68 are in position. In its complete shape, it will have 1,000 beds with 15 super speciality and 18 speciality departments.
Currently, it has 200 beds, mostly distributed among basic medical disciplines such as Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedics and Gynaecology. The new 150 beds will enable in-patient services in other speciality disciplines like ENT, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Skin and VD.