AIIMS Delhi on Friday withdrew a letter by director Dr M Srinivas that listed special arrangements for treatment of MPs at the premier institute after facing widespread criticism from doctors' associations. While AIIMS Delhi said the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were issued to streamline treatment facilities for MPs, a section of doctors called out the "VIP culture" at the premier health institute.
"The letter by AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas regarding medical care arrangements for sitting MPs in AIIMS has been withdrawn with immediate effect," a notification by AIIMS Delhi said.
Following the criticism, AIIMS Delhi tweeted it had a 24x7 control room for co-ordination of medical care of patients from all walks of life.
"Residents and faculty from Dept of Hospital Administration work here to ease logistics and expedite treat for poorest of the poor," AIIMS further said.
AIIMS Director M Srinivas, in his letter to the joint secretary at the Lok Sabha Secretariat, listed the SOPs for outpatient department (OPD), emergency consultation and in-patient hospitalisation of members of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, PTI reported.
The letter said there would be a nodal officer available at the AIIMS control room round-the-clock to coordinate and facilitate medical care arrangements for MPs.
The AIIMS director, in his letter, said the MP's staff can contact 011-26589279, 011-26593308, 011-26593574 or 9868397016 to speak to the officer on duty, PTI reported.
The officer will in turn speak to the specialist or super-specialist doctor or the head of the department concerned to fix an appointment, the letter said.
In case of emergency, the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha secretariats or the MP's staff can contact the duty officer, who will guide them to emergency services, it further said.
The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) had questioned the decision, saying that the special privilege to MPs might come at the cost of ordinary patients.
"We condemn VIP culture. No patient should suffer at the cost of another's privileges. That being said, having a protocol to streamline things should not be viewed as derogatory, provided it doesn't hamper patient care," FORDA tweeted.
"We stand for 'Janta pehle, pratinidhi baad meyn (people first, representatives later)'. Only VIP in healthcare is a sicker patient. A doctor shouldn't be made to choose," it further said.
The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) wrote a letter to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, appealing to him to take cognisance of the issue.
"On one side our Hon'ble @PMOIndia shri @narendramodi Ji says 'There is no #VIP Culture in #India ! But on the other hand @aiims_newdelhi Director #Dr_M_Srinivas releases an letter to promote #VIP Culture! Like past we still stand against #VIP Culture! #SayNoToVIPculture," it tweeted.