GMCH 32 to expand diagnostic services through PPP model

Chandigarh: In a move aimed at improving diagnostic services and reducing patient waiting time, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32) is set to introduce CT scan and MRI facilities under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Hospital officials said that the initiative will not only speed up access to reports for patients but also provide dedicated machines for medical students to gain practical training.

According to Prof G.P. Thami, Director Principal of GMCH-32, the patient load has seen a dramatic surge over the past decade. In 2014, the hospital recorded 5.22 lakh OPD visits, which rose to 6.53 lakh in 2024. Departments such as general surgery, medicine, and orthopaedics continue to witness the maximum rush, with daily footfalls ranging from 2,200 to 2,500 patients from across the region.

This surge has made it imperative for the hospital to speed up diagnostic procedures and decentralise services to manage the growing pressure on infrastructure and staff.

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Speaking to the Indian Express, Dr Thami added that starting CT scans and MRI under the PPP model will benefit both patients and students, and at present, the plan is being worked out. Recently, GMCH introduced a queue-management system in the ENT department, which has reduced the need for patients to stand in long lines. The administration believes that similar digital and structural facilities will gradually be introduced in all departments. To make health services more digital-friendly, the GMCH had already launched a token system in the ENT OPD two months ago, which has been widely appreciated.

The decision is also inspired by the success of the PPP diagnostic model at GMSH-16, introduced in 2023, which brought down both costs and turnaround times for imaging services. At GMSH-16, patients now have 24-hour access to MRI and CT scans at nearly 50% lower cost than private labs. The centre serves not only in-house patients but also referrals from other government and private hospitals.

“Patients in the emergency get priority, and with the PPP mode working very well here, we want to extend this model and decentralise by offering diagnostic and lab services like ultrasound, PET scans, CT scans, radiology services in our other health facilities and Civil Hospitals of Sector 22, 45 and Mani Majra,” said Dr Suman Singh, Director Health Services, reports Indian Express.

The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is also working on a parallel plan to offer 24x7 diagnostic services, in association with a public sector undertaking.

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Speaking to the Indian Express, Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director, Administration, says the administration will work towards the plan, in association with a public sector undertaking that will provide all tests at PGI rates. With this facility, patients, especially those from outside the station, don’t have to come back the next day for a test.