Cabinet yet to decide PGIMER's new director

Chandigarh: The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, will have a new director soon after the current officiating director's contract ends on April 30. The process to select a new director has been completed.  

The current director, Dr. Surjit Singh, head of the department of paediatrics, PGIMER was given the officiating charge of director until PGI find a regular director to handle the responsibility. Dr. Singh was appointed on November 1, 2021, for a period of 6 months. His 6 months contract is going to end on April 30.

Dr. Singh completed his MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, and joined PGIMER as a resident doctor in 1984. He specializes in paediatric rheumatology, especially the Kawasaki disease, and primary immunodeficiency diseases. 

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Dr. Singh was given the charge after Dr. Jagat Ram who is an ophthalmologist retired from the post. Dr. Ram was appointed in 2017 and served the institute for four years and seven months. 

The interview for the new director post has already started in January 2022, as many as 32 candidates came for the interview including 20 candidates who are currently PGI employees, few doctors from Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and few senior doctors from other national health institutes. The interview was conducted by the search-cum-selection committee.

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However, the interview session is now completed and the shortlisted candidates have been sent to the Institute Body (IB) by the selection committee. The IB then sent the recommendation to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) through the Union ministry of health.

Deputy director, PGIMER, Kumar Gaurav Dhawan told HT, "The selection and announcement will be done by the Union ministry of health. We had written a letter to the Union ministry, earlier this month, and informed them that the appointment is due for this month. We are expecting an official announcement on April 30, which can be made either on the appointment of a new director or about the extension of the officiating charge."