AIIMS faculty demands enhanced budgetary allocation for hospital

New Delhi, Mar 6 (UNI) Expressing regret over the reduction in the budgetary allocation for AIIMS, 140 faculty members have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, requesting him to enhance the allocation to keep up with inflation.

A faculty delegation submitted the memorandum to the Prime Minister.

''Based on its contributions to both Health and Higher Education, which are the highlights of the current budget, the AIIMS deserves a budgetary enhancement to keep up with inflation and enhanced services, and not a budgetary cut,'' said Dr Aoop Saraya, who was part of the delegation which submitted the letter.

He said if the Government has to cut the budgetary allocation due to non-utilisation of funds by the Institute, then Director, Deputy Director Administration and the Financial Adviser to the Institute, who are responsible for the optimal utilisation of the funds should be held answerable for the lapse.

''Rather than shifting the onus of this on the poor patients, there is a need for increased fund allocation for their care and medical research,'' he added.

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