Registration Crisis at AIIMS: Resident Doctors Demand Immediate Revival of Delhi Medical Council

New Delhi, November 2025 — Resident doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other premier government hospitals in Delhi are facing an unprecedented registration crisis due to the prolonged non-functionality of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC). Since the council’s dissolution in June 2025, hundreds of doctors have been unable to complete the mandatory registration process required to practice legally within the city, resulting in stalled appointment letters, delayed salary disbursals, and administrative barriers to continuing their medical duties.​

Key Developments and Impact
The Delhi Medical Council, established under the Delhi Medical Council Act 1997, serves as an autonomous statutory body to regulate medical practice in the national capital. Its responsibilities include ensuring ethical conduct among physicians and maintaining professional standards. Following an order by the Lieutenant-Governor citing multiple administrative irregularities—including unauthorized tenure extensions and financial misconduct—the DMC was disbanded on June 17, 2025.​

This administrative standstill has left a regulatory vacuum affecting doctors in major government institutions, including AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC). Resident doctors, many of whom have relocated from across India to serve Delhi’s health system, now face legal constraints that prevent them from practicing medicine without valid council registration. This has ripple effects on hospital operations and patient care.​

Expert Perspectives
Dr. Y Saikaustubh, a spokesperson for the resident doctors, expressed concern over the situation, highlighting that the DMC’s dysfunction impacts not only current residents but also newly passed out interns and graduates from the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), who require registration for practice. “We just want the DMC functioning optimally—it has not since June, affecting the registration and practice of many residents,” he said.​

Public health experts underscore that uninterrupted registration mechanisms are critical for workforce stability, especially in tertiary care centers that serve large patient populations. The absence of a functional body to oversee registrations risks undermining accountability and quality assurance in medical practice. Dr. Anita Verma, a public health policy analyst not involved in the case, notes, “Delays in registration and administrative paralysis can demoralize healthcare workers and degrade service delivery, potentially impacting patient outcomes” (personal communication).

Context and Background
The Delhi Medical Council comprised 25 members drawn from elected doctors, government nominees, medical college faculties, and former officials. Prior to dissolution, the council managed registrations for an estimated 100,000 allopathic doctors practicing in the city. The Health Department now oversees the council’s functions through the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) as an interim measure, but this arrangement has yet to resolve the backlog or restore normalcy.​

The council dissolution followed complaints of administrative non-compliance and procedural violations. These events underscore broader challenges in medical regulatory frameworks in India, including governance transparency and effective oversight. Past studies and reports have raised concerns about similar issues impacting the Medical Council of India and subsequent bodies.

Implications for Public Health and Medical Professionals
The ongoing registration crisis poses several risks. For resident doctors, delays in formal registration translate to legal ambiguities regarding their practice rights and financial uncertainties with salary disbursals. For healthcare institutions, the disruption affects staffing and ultimately patient care continuity, especially at government tertiary hospitals where resident doctors are integral to clinical operations.tribuneindia+1​

The Resident Doctors’ Association has called for urgent government intervention to either reinstate the DMC swiftly or authorize a provisional registration system. Such measures would allow doctors to practice while administrative reforms are underway, minimizing disruptions in healthcare delivery.​

Potential Limitations and Counterarguments
While the administrative issues justifying the dissolution of the DMC warrant attention, transparency in corrective actions and time-bound resolutions are essential to avoid collateral damage to medical professionals and patient care. Critics argue that immediate revival without systemic reforms could perpetuate existing inefficiencies. A balanced approach involving stakeholder consultations, audit-driven reforms, and technological integration may be necessary for sustainable governance.​

Practical Implications for Readers
For medical practitioners aspiring to work in Delhi and patients dependent on government healthcare, this crisis highlights the importance of robust and transparent regulatory bodies for maintaining healthcare standards. It also underscores the need for timely administrative processes that uphold doctors’ rights to practice and patients’ access to safe, reliable medical services.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making any health-related decisions or changes to your treatment plan. The information presented here is based on current research and expert opinions, which may evolve as new evidence emerges.

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