PG Doctors Exit Medical Institutes: Why are postgraduate doctors leaving institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER? RTI reveals the truth.

Information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that a significant number of resident doctors are abandoning their seats, despite having secured them through intense competition.

PG Doctors Exit Medical Institutes: For any doctor, securing a postgraduate or super-specialty seat at prestigious medical institutions like AIIMS or JIPMER—after achieving a top rank in the highly competitive NEET-PG examination—is a dream come true. However, a concerning trend has emerged: junior resident doctors at these premier institutions are leaving their programs and positions midway.

RTI findings indicate that, despite the rigorous selection process, a large number of resident doctors are opting to leave. RTI applications filed by a member of the 'United Doctors Front' reveal that factors such as high workplace stress, long duty hours, and a 'toxic' work culture are driving doctors to quit these institutions.

What do the figures for AIIMS and JIPMER show?

Official data obtained via RTI suggests a slight decline in the number of doctors leaving their seats compared to previous years; however, the trend persists. In 2025, 34 junior resident doctors at AIIMS Delhi left the institute midway, compared to 60 in 2024. Additionally, the number of new admissions dropped from 324 in 2024 to 267 in 2025.

Looking at the data by department, the Department of Anesthesiology saw the highest number of departures, with 7 doctors leaving. This was followed by the Department of Ophthalmology, where 6 doctors left, while the Departments of Surgery and Pathology each saw 3 doctors depart. Meanwhile, at JIPMER, a total of 44 doctors—across the January and July 2025 batches—resigned. While this represents a decrease of approximately 27% compared to the 60 resignations seen in 2024, departures continued in critical departments such as Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics, Pathology, and Surgery.

A similar situation prevails at the country’s newer AIIMS institutes.

This issue is not confined to Delhi or Puducherry; a trend of doctors leaving their programs has also been observed at institutes in other states. In 2025, 30 students in postgraduate (PG) and super-specialty programs at AIIMS Rishikesh dropped out. At AIIMS Raipur, 19 doctors from the 2025 batch vacated their seats. At AIIMS Kalyani, 15 students left their studies midway in 2025, and by the time of this report, another 11 students from the 2026 batch had also departed. Similar instances of doctors vacating their seats have been recorded at AIIMS Patna and AIIMS Gorakhpur.

Primary reasons for doctors leaving their programs

According to Dr. Lakshya Mittal, President of the United Doctors Front, a key reason why even top-ranked candidates drop out is the requirement to work for up to 36 consecutive hours without adequate rest—a practice that severely impacts their physical and mental well-being. Other contributing factors include mental harassment by senior doctors and department heads, a lack of effective communication, and a negative workplace environment. Furthermore, there is no robust counseling system in place for doctors struggling with mental stress, sleep deprivation, or depression. In response to an RTI query, AIIMS Delhi stated that it maintains no consolidated record of psychiatric counseling provided to resident doctors.

PIL filed in the Supreme Court seeking reforms

Given the gravity of the situation, the United Doctors Front has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court. An association of doctors has demanded that the working hours of resident doctors be strictly defined and limited. It has also called for the establishment of an independent grievance redressal system within medical colleges and hospitals. Furthermore, it has urged the creation of a confidential mechanism for the mental health and counseling of doctors, alongside the implementation of institutional accountability.