Govt no to rotatory headship

Despite a 75 per cent vote favouring a rotating headship at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the health ministry has shelved the idea, reports Jaya Shroff Bhalla.

Despite a 75 per cent vote favouring a rotating headship at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the health ministry has shelved the idea.

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“The health ministry decided against introducing rotating headship after various heads of departments threatened to quit AIIMS,” said a source

in the health ministry, unauthorised to speak to the media.

"The minister (Ghulam Nabi Azad) is worried about losing AIIMS doctors to private sector,” said the source. Dr R.C. Deka, AIIMS director, Dr Rani Kumar, dean and B.K. Prasad, joint secretary in the health ministry met the faculty on February 12 and 16, where individual doctors were asked to cast their vote.

“The rotatory headship has been shelved for the time being. Changing powers from one to another is anyway not the solution,” said Dr Rani Kumar, dean and head of department of anatomy.

“The present system has been there for 50 years,” Kumar added.

“Every department should have a core committee of senior doctors where individuals are made responsible for academics, research, purchase of equipment and administration. Together they should report to the head and for all major decisions,” said Kumar, emphasising the need for transparency.

“It is a larger issue. In the long run and in short run it (rotatory headship) is not a good idea,” said Dr M.C. Mishra, head, AIIMS trauma centre.

“Nobody listens to anybody, department does not progress and no one has control or is responsible about the workings,” he said.

“If the ministry has to give a go-ahead it will be a last nail on the coffin as most heads would resign,” Mishra added.