No Special Treatments For MPs; AIIMS Withdraws Guidelines Prioritising The Treatment Of MPs.

The AIIMS hospital has withdrawn the guidelines it had issued to prioritise the treatment of MPs. The action was taken after strong protests from the doctors. The guidelines issued by AIIMS were that if an MP seeks treatment, the head of the concerned department should supervise matters, including admission. The doctors' body, FAIMA, had written to the Union Health Minister saying that the proposal was unfair to common patients demanding withdrawal. An organisation called FODA also protested.

In Delhi AIIMS, there is a situation where one has to wait for five to six months for treatment in the surgery department and neurology department. AIIMS director M. Srinivas issued the directive stating that special treatment should be given to MPs while this is still the case. If the members come for treatment, the doctor on duty should make an appointment in the concerned department. In the case of inpatient treatment, the information should be reported to the superintendent as soon as possible. The Superintendent hanldles reporting information to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats. Doctors' organisations have questioned the introduction of VIP culture into AIIMS. In 2017, special treatment facilities were introduced at AIIMS for patients who come with recommendation letters from MPs. That decision was withdrawn following widespread protests that day.