Expressing concern over the large number of vacancies in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a Parliamentary committee has asked the Government to immediately fill them up and provide additional funds for the purpose.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health was informed that the allocated funds would not be sufficient for maintaining the infrastructure and patient care services of the premier health institute.
"The committee feels that the decrease in the non-plan expenditure from Rs 310 crore to Rs 290 crore is surely going to affect the patient care services offered by the institute," the report said.
The committee apprehended return of the 'user charges regime' at AIIMS because consumables are the only negotiable component of the Non-Plan budget as salary and bills have to be paid any way.
The Centre has already written a letter to AIIMS Director R C Deka asking him to work out their requirement of additional funds, if any, which will be considered during supplementary demands for grants.
On the existing vacancies at AIIMS, the Centre has informed that all categories of vacant posts are in the process of being filled up.
The committee has emphasised that procedural formalities for the Centre should be expedited so as to complete it by the targeted date.