Health Ministry is currently reviewing the issue of implementing a rotatory headship system at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), according to PGIMER Director Dr. Vivek Lal.
This development comes amid ongoing protests by faculty members from AIIMS Delhi and PGIMER Chandigarh, who began a joint relay hunger strike on June 1, demanding a shift from the current seniority-based system to a fixed-term, rotatory headship model. However, participation at PGIMER has remained low due to academic vacations.
Dr. Lal told the Hindustan Times that the Ministry had recently sought presentations from leading medical institutes on this matter. A three-member committee from PGIMER, including Dr. Arun Aggarwal, participated in a meeting chaired by a Joint Secretary of the Ministry. “The issue is being actively considered at the highest levels,” Dr. Lal confirmed.
Currently, both PGIMER and AIIMS Delhi follow a seniority-based policy, where department heads (HoDs) retain their positions until retirement. In some departments, the same individual has held the post for over a decade, prompting concerns among faculty members about limited leadership opportunities.
For more than ten years, the Faculty Associations of PGIMER and AIIMS Delhi have been advocating for a time-bound, rotating headship system. Multiple expert committees most of which supported the idea have studied the issue over the years.
The VK Paul Committee also endorsed rotatory headship. A faculty-wide survey conducted as part of its review revealed strong support for the policy:
- 82% of professors
- 89% of additional professors
- 78% of associate professors
- 95% of assistant professors
favoured implementing the rotatory model.
However, among current HoDs, 76% opposed the change, 16% supported it, and 8% suggested alternative models.
Following a Ministry directive, PGIMER implemented a collegium system in 2023 to deliberate on the headship issue, with a final decision expected in 2024. A high-level panel led by Dr. VK Paul of NITI Aayog including former AIIMS Director Dr. MC Mishra and noted cardiologist Dr. KK Talwar was tasked with overseeing this process.
In protest against the continued delay, the Faculty Associations of AIIMS and PGIMER launched a month-long black badge campaign starting May 1, 2025 and addressed a joint letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda.