PGI Chandigarh plans a new 150-bed critical care block

Chandigarh: With an aim to treat patients suffering from serious life-threatening diseases, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI Chandigarh) is planning to establish a 150-beded exclusive critical care block under PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

The PM-ABHIM is the largest pan-India scheme for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country which focuses on primary, secondary and tertiary care services. The major aim of the scheme is to establish a health system that responds effectively to future pandemics/disasters like COVID-19.

Also read- PGI Chandigarh Initiates 'Human Milk Bank' For Inborn Neonates

"The need for an exclusive critical care block was felt during the Covid-19 pandemic when the healthcare infrastructure got overburdened. The Centre has asked the tertiary care hospitals interested in setting up a critical care block and we had consented for the same," said Gaurav Dhawan, Deputy Director, PGIMER.

The PGIMER proposed a plan to the centre that there will be around 100 or 150 beds for critical patients and that each specialty department will have a different number of beds allocated for their patients. After the centre approves it, the Centre would fund the project, which will cost Rs 120 crore, and the procedures will be finalised.

Chandigarh City News reports that the Central Government has planned critical care hospital blocks in 12 government hospitals which will also act as mentor institutions for training and capacity building. 

Also read- Udta Punjab On Alcohol, PGI Chandigarh Study Says Alcohol Is Maximally Abused Substance In State

Last Month Medical dialogues team had reported that a study conducted by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) revealed that alcohol is the most commonly abused substance, with over 2 million people in Punjab consuming it, followed by tobacco, which is consumed by more than 1.5 million people. The number of consumption of opioids is around 1.7 lakh people followed by cannabinoids as well as sedative-inhalant- stimulants.

Around 15.4% of the population are mostly men in Punjab that consume alcohol or any other kind of drug, says the study. The study was conducted by Dr. JS Thakur, professor of the community medicine department of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

Also read- Former PGIMER Professor Dr Ramesh Kumar Sen Elected President Of Indian Orthopaedic Association