Why Are Top PG Doctors Resigning from AIIMS and JIPMER?
Recent disclosures under the Right to Information Act highlight a worrying surge in PG doctor resignations across India's top medical colleges. Specifically, junior resident doctors are actively quitting residency seats at institutes like AIIMS and JIPMER. Consequently, these departures expose severe structural flaws within prestigious postgraduate medical training programs.
Data Reveals Extent of PG Doctor Resignations
Official RTI data reveals widespread resignations across multiple premier campuses. For instance, AIIMS Delhi recorded 34 junior resident departures during 2025. Although this marks a drop from 60 exits in 2024, total student intake also dropped from 324 to 267. Moreover, anaesthesiology suffered the heaviest attrition with seven departures, while ophthalmology lost six trainees. Surgery and pathology each lost three residents during the same period.
Furthermore, JIPMER Puducherry witnessed 44 resident resignations across its January and July batches in 2025. This figure reflects a 27% decline compared to 60 exits in 2024. Nevertheless, exits persisted across vital departments such as emergency medicine, orthopaedics, and general surgery. In addition, new AIIMS institutes faced comparable retention struggles. AIIMS Rishikesh lost 30 postgraduate doctors in 2025. Meanwhile, AIIMS Raipur and AIIMS Kalyani recorded 19 and 15 departures respectively.
Underlying Causes Driving Resident Physician Exits
Young physicians earn these coveted seats after clearing intense national examinations. Therefore, their premature exit underscores severe systemic distress. The United Doctors Front highlighted several recurring grievances reported by trainees. Residents frequently work grueling shifts extending past 36 continuous hours without adequate rest. In addition, doctors face toxic workplace hierarchies and routine harassment from senior faculty.
Consequently, persistent sleep deprivation degrades cognitive function and harms clinical judgment. Many resident doctors also endure severe burnout and emotional isolation. Unfortunately, medical institutes fail to maintain adequate psychological support infrastructure. For example, AIIMS Delhi stated that it maintains no compiled records on resident psychiatric counselling. Similarly, AIIMS Raipur reported zero resident counselling sessions, while AIIMS Kalyani withheld relevant mental health data. As a result, the United Doctors Front filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court to demand enforceable working-hour limits.
Regulatory Reforms and Institutional Accountability
Healthcare administrators must urgently address the structural gaps that drive doctors away. First, regulatory authorities must strictly cap continuous duty hours. Prolonged duty cycles compromise patient safety and violate basic resident welfare. Furthermore, national bodies must mandate transparent grievance redressal committees independent of local department heads.
Additionally, healthcare institutions must actively monitor trainee mental health. Deans must provide confidential psychological counseling and destigmatize psychiatric care among medical professionals. Without meaningful institutional accountability, top hospitals will continue to lose brilliant clinicians. Protecting resident well-being ultimately ensures better healthcare delivery across the entire medical ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why are postgraduate doctors quitting premier institutions like AIIMS?
Residents cite excessive shifts exceeding 36 hours, toxic work culture, harassment, and inadequate mental health support.
Q2: Did AIIMS Delhi record a decrease in resident resignations in 2025?
Yes, AIIMS Delhi saw 34 resignations in 2025 compared to 60 in 2024. However, total resident admissions also fell from 324 to 267.
Q3: What legal actions are medical associations taking regarding resident working hours?
The United Doctors Front filed a Supreme Court petition to enforce duty hour limits and establish independent grievance cells.
References
- Postgraduate doctors quit premier medical institutes, shows RTI reply - ETHealthworld
- 477 PG medicos quit courses midway at AIIMS, JIPMER in last 3 years - Medical Dialogues
- 186 PG students quit AIIMS campuses in 2025: RTI info - The Tribune
