Facing flak from doctors for promoting a VIP culture at Indiaโs premier medical institution, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi on Friday withdrew with โimmediate effectโ its order to streamline treatment facilities for all sitting Members of Parliament.
In a letter, with the subject line โMedical care arrangements for Honโble Sitting Members of Parliament in AIIMSโ, addressed to YM Kandpal, joint secretary, Lok Sabha secretariat, the institute wrote, โRespected Sir, Letter dated October 17, 2022 on the subject cited above may be treated as withdrawn with immediate effect.โ
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 โVIPsโ want to talk to them.
The decision led to widespread criticism, with several doctorsโ 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 countryโs 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, โOur 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.โ
โWe condemn VIP culture. No patient should suffer at the cost of anotherโs privileges. THAT being said, having a protocol to streamline things should not be viewed as derogatory, provided it doesnโt hamper patient care,โ another doctorsโ association, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), tweeted yesterday.
