Chandigarh: PGIMER completes 53 years, celebrates foundation day

Chandigarh, July 7 : India's premier medical Institute, the PGI observed its foundation Day today . The function was held at Bhargava  Auditorium  and commenced at 8 am in the morning. Prof K Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, addressed the PGI family and spoke on 'India's Health System Reforms.' Prof. Anil Gupta, IIM Ahmadabad also delivered a lecture on 'Innovations for Inclusive Health,' on the occasion.

Some important Statistics were revealed by the esteemed organisation, which has entered its 54th year. Attending upon more than  25 lac patients in its various OPD's everyday, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research,( PGIMER) enjoys the status of being a premier medical institute of the country. According to statistics available, over a lac new patients enter its OPD gates every year.

The institute being one of its kind in the region, has an OPD attendance of 10,000 patients every day. Looking at the patient rush, it is clear that the institute is shouldering a burden which is four or five times  more than  what it can bear or sustain.

The rush at the institute is also the result of a lack of awareness among people at large about other improved facilities in the areas of Punjab and Haryana. The excess numbers thronging the medical institution have resulted in overburdening on both staff  and other resources.

" I think creating awareness and trust among the public about availability of quality healthcare outside of the PGI is as important as strengthening of the health services itself," said Dr Vipin Koushal, Deputy Medical Superintendent, PGI.

 "Since there is no referral system, doctors are bound to treat every patient on a priority basis. We have been communicating with regional hospitals to avoid referring any patient unless unavoidable. Being one of the premier institutes, we cannot deny services to any patient." He added.

PGI has approximately 400 faculty members,  1,000 resident doctors, 2,000 nurses and students and 350 PhD and paramedical students.

 "The number is terribly low as compared to the footfall of patients, as a result of which the staff is overburdened and over-stressed," said Dr Koushal.

The states which throng this medical institution for treatment include: Punjab and Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &Kashmir, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan