PGI Chandigarh's SFC approves Faculty recruitment, Infrastructure Enhancement

Chandigarh: The 130th meeting of the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) Chandigarh was convened in New Delhi. During the meeting, the committee approved several key initiatives to enhance infrastructure and academic excellence at the institute.

The meeting was chaired by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary of Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

One key highlight of Wednesday's meeting was the establishment of regular faculty and non-faculty positions at PGIMER’s satellite centres in Sangrur, Ferozepur, and Una. This move is expected to strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved regions.

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Additionally, major IT upgrades, including cybersecurity enhancements and establishing a centralized data centre to support the implementation of the Hospital Information System (HIS) version-2 project, were approved. Engineering upgrades to improve fire safety across PGIMER facilities and the establishment of a medical museum were also endorsed.

The Sarathi Initiative is another key initiative that was discussed during the meeting. This initiative, launched in May 2024, is a volunteer-based program at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. It has successfully improved patient care by streamlining hospital processes and reducing patient wait times. A recent post-implementation impact study conducted by the hospital’s Department of Community Medicine revealed a significant reduction in the average waiting time for outpatients, decreasing from 4.2 hours to just 2.8 hours.

This newly launched program has simplified patient navigation, reducing the workload on hospital staff and has improved the overall patient experience. The Sarathi Initiative enlists student volunteers from local colleges and Panjab University to assist patients with key processes such as registration, lab tests, and navigating hospital queues. This has been particularly helpful to the hospital's patient care facility, especially for first-time visitors who may find the complex hospital system overwhelming.

This new initiative followed a successful pilot with 22 volunteers from the Government Polytechnic College for Women, Chandigarh, in April 2024. It now engages National Service Scheme (NSS) student volunteers from local institutions like Panjab University and DAV College. With more than 350 volunteers supporting the New OPD, Advanced Eye Centre, and other specialized units, the program has become a vital component of PGIMER's operations.

A recent study, based on surveys of 237 OPD patients, revealed that 60% were aware of the program, and 54% had used its services. Among those who participated, 76% found the assistance valuable, citing navigation (27%), registration (22%), and lab test support (13%) as the most beneficial aspects. The program earned a stellar patient satisfaction rating of 4.8 out of 5.

The success of this program has led healthcare workers to recommend expanding volunteer roles, including taking on administrative tasks like form-filling, to further enhance efficiency. This initiative traces its roots back to PGIMER’s Deputy Director, Pankaj Rai, who visited Henry Ford Health Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, in 2019. During his visit, he observed a similar model and recognized the need for such a volunteer-based system at PGIMER to manage its high patient volume, which exceeds 30 lakh annual visits. He collaborated with local NGOs and educational institutions to establish a sustainable volunteer network. These partnerships have been especially helpful during exam seasons and holidays when student availability may be limited.

Additionally, beyond its immediate impact on patient care, the post-implementation impact study highlights that Sarathi also fosters empathy and social responsibility among volunteers. This Sarathi Initiative has already been adopted by over 250 hospitals across 25 states in India, and plans are underway to expand the program to more than 700 hospitals nationwide.

Also Read: PGI Chandigarh to target setting 300 bedded Sangrur Satellite Centre by December 2019