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The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi withdrew with “immediate effect” its order to streamline treatment facilities for all sitting Members of Parliament.
Facing flak from doctors for promoting a VIP culture at India’s premier medical institution, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi on Friday withdrew with “immediate effect” its order to streamline treatment facilities for all sitting Members of Parliament.
In a letter, with the subject line ‘Medical care arrangements for Hon’ble Sitting Members of Parliament in AIIMS’, addressed to YM Kandpal, joint secretary, Lok Sabha secretariat, the institute wrote, “Respected Sir, Letter dated October 17, 2022 on the subject cited above may be treated as withdrawn with immediate effect.”
Newly appointed AIIMS, Delhi director Dr M Srinivas, director, AIIMS, Delhi, on Wednesday wrote a letter to Lok Sabha joint secretary YM Kandpal over the streamlining of treatment facilities for the outpatient department, emergency consultation, and inpatient hospitalisation of the sitting MPs of both houses.
It has also been enlisted that the duty officers will be available to coordinate and facilitate everything. The letter also suggested the land number of the officer on duty in case the ‘VIPs’ want to talk to them.
The decision led to widespread criticism, with several doctors’ associations terming the preferential treatment to MPs as the reintroduction of the VIP culture.
The All India Medical Association (FAIMA) wrote to Union Health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya strongly opposing the decision by the country’s prime health institution and asking for the revoking of the letter with immediate effect.
On Thursday, Dr Rohan Krishnan, president, FAIMA, while speaking with The New Indian on this issue, stated, “Our demand is plain and simple, take back the letter. There was no point in releasing such letters. There were no complaints that MPs had not received treatments.”
“We condemn VIP culture. No patient should suffer at the cost of another’s privileges. THAT being said, having a protocol to streamline things should not be viewed as derogatory, provided it doesn’t hamper patient care,” another doctors’ association, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), tweeted yesterday.
