MBBS at PGI Chandigarh: Finance Committee gives approval

Chandigarh: In the latest update regarding the proposed MBBS course at Sanaranpur Centre of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), the Standing Finance Committee of the Institute has given its nod in this regard.

Apart from this, the committee headed by the Secretary of Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Rajesh Bhushan has also given approval for the construction of a 150-bed critical care block. 

Medical Dialogues had reported last year that PGI was considering a proposal of commencing admission in MBBS course with the intake capacity of 100 MBBS students at the Sarangpur Centre of the institute.

This decision was expected to bring respite to lakhs of applicants going in for the only 92 MBBS seats in the general category available in the city. Earlier, the Standing Academic Committee (SAC) of PGIMER had recommended for including yoga science, ayurvedic science and traditional medicine in the MBBS curriculum. Apart from yoga and Ayurvedic science, the Committee had also suggested for including new branches such as aviation medicine and organ transplant in the new syllabus.

Besides, the SAC had also given its in-principle nod for constituting a 500-bed Hospital, an extension of Nehru Hospital. The proposal was later submitted before the Standing Finance Committee (SAC) for budget approval from the Union Government. Led by Rajesh Bhushan, the secretary of Union Health Ministry, the Finance Committee has nine other members as well.

Also Read: MBBS at PGI Chandigarh: Finance Committee to Review Proposal for Budget Approval

As per the latest media report by The Tribune, the Standing Finance Committee has given its nod for MBBS course at the Sarangpur campus of the institute. According to the proposal, the college campus will also have a fully equipped attached hospital with state-of-the-art facilities for quality education, research and patient care.

The Committee has also given its nod for the construction of a 150-bed critical care block, which will come at an estimated cost of Rs 208 crore. This block will be set up near the National Institute of Nursing Education, PGI. The Central Government will fund Rs 120 crore of the total amount and already Rs 20 crore has been sanctioned to PGI.

Further, the Finance Committee has also approved the construction of the boundary wall at Sarangpur land. Back in 2021, PGI obtained the possession of Rs 50.76 acres. With the nod from the Finance Committee, the institute will commence the construction of boundary wall on the premises. After obtaining funds from the Ministry, the project is expected to be completed over a span of one to two years.

The approval has also been given for setting up a multi-level parking at PGI, Chandigarh. The project, which will cost around Rs 63 crore, had been approved back in 2015 and it had altogether seven floors, along with a basement on 26,000 sq metres of land. Each of the floors will have a parking space for around 80 cards. So, the parking space will be able to accommodate altogether 680 cars leading to reduced traffic congestion on the premises.

Also Read: PGIMER to send detailed proposal for MBBS course to Health Ministry