Severe Shortage of Teaching Faculty at Safdarjung Hospital

Overview of the Situation

New Delhi: Safdarjung Hospital, one of the largest central government hospitals in India, is currently facing a significant shortage of teaching faculty. This shortage poses a potential threat to both patient care and medical education within the institution.

Faculty Vacancies Revealed by RTI

An RTI response from Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, dated December 27, 2025, highlights that 70 out of the 398 sanctioned teaching posts are vacant. The current staffing situation shows that while 365 faculty positions are filled, there is an uneven distribution across departments.

Distribution of Faculty Members

Out of the 365 filled positions, 346 are occupied by regular faculty members, and 19 positions are held by contractual staff. Notably, there are 37 positions with excess faculty in some departments, exacerbating the vacancy issue in others.

Critical Departments in Urgent Need

The staffing gaps have severely impacted critical departments. For instance:

• Clinical Haematology: 9 vacancies out of 11 sanctioned posts
• Neurology: 8 faculty vacancies
• Cardiology: 7 vacancies out of 12 posts
• Neurosurgery: 5 vacant posts
• Anaesthesia: 6 vacancies

Additionally, there are gaps in departments related to cancer care and advanced diagnostics.

Departments Experiencing Vacancies

• Medical Oncology: 2 sanctioned posts, none filled
• Nuclear Medicine: 3 vacancies
• Urology: 4 vacancies
• Other departments, including pathology, physiology, pulmonary medicine, endocrinology, and forensic medicine, are also experiencing staffing shortages.

Official Response to the Shortage

Sakshi Chhugh, the Public Relations Officer at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, addressed these concerns, stating that out of the sanctioned 398 teaching posts, 345 are occupied by regular faculty and 18 by contractual faculty. Interviews for the remaining positions have been conducted, and appointments will be made according to prescribed recruitment procedures.

Implications of Faculty Shortages

Health experts warn that the ongoing faculty shortages can lead to longer waiting times, increased clinician workloads, and reduced supervision for medical students. These issues may have direct consequences for patient care at high-volume centers like Safdarjung Hospital.

Conclusion

The shortage of teaching faculty at Safdarjung Hospital not only strains medical education but could also jeopardize patient care. Continuous efforts are necessary to address these vacancies and ensure that both teaching and healthcare services remain uninterrupted.