UT clears PGI expansion plan

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune New Service

Chandigarh, March 27

Screening OPDs, an emergency ward, trauma centre, operation theatres, parking places, eight super-speciality centres and houses for the faculty and doctors will come at the PGI in next 20 years as the Chandigarh Administration has approved a comprehensive master plan for it.

Sources said the approval to the plan has been conveyed to the PGI. The plan has been awaiting approval for more than four years.

The PGI, established on 277 acres, provides high-quality patient care besides being a training ground in all-important branches of the medical stream. It also undertakes community-based research. However, due to inadequate infrastructure, it has not been able to meet current and future requirements.

The institute has around 1,900 beds since its inception but failed to expand the number despite some additions such as an OPD block, advanced paediatric centre, cardiac centre, drug de-addition centre, advanced eye care centre and an emergency block. Sources said it had been planned to add 2,400 beds at the PGI.

As per the plan, the screening OPDs will be constructed Sarangpur. Sources said to lessen burden on the institution, patients will be screened at the screening OPDs and only those requiring further treatment would be referred to the existing OPDs at the PGI. Besides, there is a plan to increase the capacity of the trauma centre and improve the emergency services. A geriatrics centre has also been planned for the treatment of elderly.

The PGI has also proposed the modernisation of the Nehru Hospital, research blocks A and B, additional hostels for doctors and nurses, houses for the faculty and the augmentation of the teaching block.

A 250-bedded hospital for cancer patients has also been proposed in the second phase of the master plan. Separate pathways for patients have also been proposed.