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By the Way

By the way : Head hunting for AIIMS

AIIMS has been a political battleground for long. Despite being the premier hospital of the country, nobody dares to intervene. The current Director, Dr MC Mishra, is retiring on January 30, 2017, and is reportedly lobbying for an extension. Meanwhile, the search for a new director for AIIMS has begun. The names in the forefront are Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s relative Dr Rasik Vajpayee, Dr Randeep Guleria, Dr Jagdish Prasad and Dr AB Dey. Dr Mishra is, moreover, under a cloud these days as he has appointed his close aide Dr Umesh Kapil as Head of Gastroenterology. Dr Kapil is known as a Human Nutrition expert. Notably, the required eligibility for the position is MD (Medicine) and DM in the same field. Sources disclosed that Dr Kapil does not have these requisites. Sources claim that Dr Kapil actually comes in the list of ineffective doctors. This is why in 1997, the then head of the department, Dr Ramesh Tondon, had recommended his removal. What has shocked the AIIMS fraternity is that in the history of the institute, this is the first time that a Head of Department was appointed without the Director’s signature on the order, which is a must as per the AIIMS Charter. Otherwise in general cases, any letter of appointment or promotion comes from the faculty cell, based on which the Director issues his order. Sources reveal that the entire sequence of events engineered by Dr Mishra was to sideline Dr Anoop Sarai, as the latter is reportedly the best qualified and experienced person for the post. Ironically, on the one hand, there is a shortage of doctors in AIIMS and on the other, experienced doctors are being dispatched for administrative duties. And a private practitioner has been made a member in the selection body. It’s to be seen in the above circumstances, whether Dr Mishra is given an extension or a new competent and experienced doctor is appointed as Director, AIIMS.

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