AIIMS Delhi director’s post up for grabs, 65 doctors apply

Sixty-five doctors from across India have applied for the position of director at AIIMS Delhi, a role that was previously held by an acting director since Dr M Srinivas became a member of NITI Aayog's Health division in April. The new director must be 62 years old or younger, which eliminates acting director Dr Nikhil Tandon as he exceeds the age limit.

The 65 applicants include leaders from various departments and centers within AIIMS Delhi, such as heads from the Forensics, Burns and Plastics, Rheumatology, Cardiology, and Community Medicine departments. The list also features doctors who have previously held positions at other AIIMS institutes or have moved to private practice.

Some of the 65 contenders are women, which is significant considering that all three other Central government-run hospitals in Delhi currently have female directors. The applications closed in the first week of August, with 29 candidates being from institutions other than AIIMS Delhi and 36 from the institute itself. Several doctors from other AIIMS locations, including Raipur, Rajkot, Rishikesh, Lucknow, and Chandigarh, have also applied.

The application process requires candidates to have a postgraduate degree in medicine, surgery, or public health, with a decade of teaching experience and 25 years of professional standing. The director must be 62 or younger on the deadline. A search and selection committee, headed by the Union Health secretary, will choose the new director from the applicants, potentially inviting more candidates if necessary.