Rs 100-cr telemedicine institute project set to take off at PGI

Charu Chhibber

 Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 29

The PGI’s ambitious Rs 100 crore project of the National Institute of Telemedicine is ready to take off. The project has got the nod of the apex decision-making body. A notification in this regard was issued today. The institute had earlier received sanction from the governing body.

Confirming the same, Dr Meenu Singh, Professor in-charge of the telemedicine centre at the PGI, said the centre is already working as the national agency for telemedicine. “With the notification received today, we can start work on its expansion as a National Institute of Telemedicine,” she said. 

Giving further details, Dr Singh said the area above the Tulsi Das Library was earmarked for the institute. “We may need additional land for the same, which will be taken care of,” she said.

The National Institute of Telemedicine will feature specialities in areas of tele consideration, tele education, tele evidence and mHealth (mobile health care).

“Our aim is to establish connectivity with all medical colleges of India and set up a system, wherein we can impart education,” informed Dr Singh. The PGI currently has a telemedicine programme in the specialties of gynaecology, paediatrics, medicine and surgery. 

Notably, during his visit to the PGI on August 6 this year, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda had stated that the PGI would soon become the national institute for telemedicine.