Chandigarh needs dedicated PGI: Tewari

Chandigarh MP and former Union Minister Manish Tewari has demanded a dedicated Post Graduate Institute for Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) for the city. At present, this North India’s premier health institute caters to the entire northern region as well as other far-off places.

The institute was founded in 1961 with the concurrence of the Planning Commission and commenced operations in 1962 before it was formally inaugurated on July 7, 1963, by the then Prime Minister Pt Jawaharlal Nehru.

“Time has come to have a dedicated PGI for Chandigarh alone,” said Tewari, while expressing serious concern over the critical equipment worth crores lying idle due to incomplete infrastructure at the PGIMER.

He was commenting on the government’s reply to his question in Parliament on Friday.

The senior Congress parliamentarian said in the last meeting of the PGIMER’s body, the Director, Dr Vivek Lal, had informed it that the land for the extension of the institute in Sarangpur has finally been allotted by the Chandigarh Administration.

“I would like to urge the Health Minister to make the Sarangpur Centre a dedicated facility for the people of Chandigarh or a new PGIMER be set up for the exclusive care of the people of the city,” Tewari asserted, while stating that he will raise this issue with Union Health Minister JP Nadda.

Referring to the reply to his question with regard to the gaps in the digital health infrastructure at the institute, Tewari said, “I have seen the evolution of the PGIMER in Chandigarh since my childhood. My mother Dr Amrit Tewari headed the Oral Health Science Centre at the institute for almost three decades and was the Dean of the Hospital also. I have seen the footfall grow enormously in the hospital as it caters to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir besides Chandigarh.”

Replying to his unstarred question on digital health infrastructure at the PGIMER in Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav gave details of the medical equipment procured for Mother and Child Care Centre and other departments of the institute since 2020.

“93% of the works of the Mother and Child Care Centre have been completed. The construction of the Centre has been delayed due to revision in the building plan to meet site and user requirement, break out of Covid pandemic and shifting of service block outside it in view of fire safety norms,” the government maintained.

The minister said to strengthen infrastructure for enhanced patient care, approval has been granted for the construction of an advanced neurosciences centre and a critical care block under Pradhan Mantri — Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) at the PGIMER.

‘CITY WILL WITHER AWAY UNDER PRESENT SYSTEM’

Tewari was all set to move his Private Member’s Bill to provide for a five-year directly elected term for the Mayor of Chandigarh as also a Mayor in Council with significantly enhanced powers. However, the House was adjourned at 3 pm. This was the fifth time it was listed for introduction.

“These are the two fundamental reforms that Chandigarh requires — an empowered Municipal Corporation with all subjects except land, police and public order, and a seat in the Council of States — Rajya Sabha,” Tewari said.

He had moved a Private Member’s Bill in 2021 and 2024 for the Rajya Sabha seat for Chandigarh as well.

“I urge all political parties and people of Chandigarh to build a politico-civic consensus for a new administrative and governance design for Chandigarh without prejudice to its status as a Union Territory,” the parliamentarian said, while asserting that without a new governance paradigm, Chandigarh cannot progress. “The city will wither away in the present system,” Tewari added.