New Delhi: More than 23,000 sanctioned posts are lying vacant across 28 hospitals and medical institutions under the Union Health Ministry, according to data presented in the Rajya Sabha.
The figures were furnished by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel in response to a question raised by CPI(M) member V. Sivadasan.
AIIMS institutions face major vacancies
The data show significant vacancies across the 18 AIIMS institutions. Against 4,850 sanctioned faculty posts for 2026-27, only about two-thirds are filled, leaving 1,645 positions vacant, or nearly 34% of the sanctioned strength.
The shortage could place additional pressure on existing medical and academic staff, particularly as these institutions provide specialised healthcare services as well as medical education and research.
AIIMS Delhi reports thousands of vacancies
AIIMS New Delhi accounts for a substantial share of the vacancies. Of its 1,313 sanctioned faculty positions, 873 are currently filled, leaving 440 posts vacant.
The situation is also notable among non-faculty employees. Against 13,913 sanctioned non-faculty posts, 11,432 have been filled, leaving 2,481 vacancies.
The figures highlight continuing staffing challenges across some of the country’s major public healthcare institutions.
Vacancies raise concerns over healthcare delivery
Staff shortages in central medical institutions can affect patient services, teaching responsibilities, research activities and administrative functions. The vacancy figures also come amid growing demand for accessible and specialised healthcare services.
The data provided to Parliament offer a broad picture of staffing gaps across institutions under the Health Ministry, while also indicating variations in sanctioned posts between institutions and years.