Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to placate him while discussing the situation at AIIMS after the PM raised his concern over the exodus of senior doctors from the premier institute earlier this month, claimed The Indian Express.

The minister also apprised Singh regarding issues concerning to the AIIMS, including the number of vacancies and exodus of senior doctors to private institutes. At least 10 senior AIIMS doctors are reported to have resigned over the last one year to take up posts in private medical institutes.

In addition, it is revealed that he also presented a presentation before the Prime Minister on the Valiathan committee report based on modernization of the premier institute.

Numerous doctors from the prestigious institution, were reported to be disgruntled with the government for not implementing the Valiathan Committee recommendations, which emerged two years ago, a presentation regarding the recommendations was made at the meeting, also attended by Health Secretary K Sujatha Rao and AIIMS director Dr R C Deka.

At the meeting, the PM raised the issue of vacancies. "The PM has asked to fill these posts without any further delay," sources said. Around 190 posts in the institute are lying vacant and "no recruitment has been done since 2005", quoted a senior AIIMS officials.