Chandigarh PGI mobile app to facilitate patients, launch by year-end: Director

PGIMER Director Prof Vivek Lal today unveiled a transformative roadmap aimed at revolutionising patient care and hospital operations. The centrepiece of the vision is a cutting-edge mobile application, which is being developed in collaboration with C-DAC, Noida, and will be launched by the end of this year.

During a media interaction today, Prof Lal said, “This app will transform how we serve our patients and manage hospital systems.” He termed it a leap towards patient-centric healthcare.

The app will feature real-time indoor navigation, QR code-based patient identification and intelligent crowd management tools to streamline hospital movement and minimise waiting period.

Prof Lal also highlighted the PGIMER’s broader digital transformation journey, including full digitisation of its Hospital Information System and improving transparency in processes like medicine procurement under Ayushman Bharat.

The hospital director detailed the Rs 987-crore Sarangpur project, which would include a 100-seat medical college, high-capacity OPDs, a 200-bed emergency block and modern amenities like a staff swimming pool and a cafeteria for doctors.

To address increasing patient load, especially in emergency care, Prof Lal announced that 300 ex-servicemen would be recruited to boost campus security, along with the appointment of 82 faculty members adhering to the Department of Personnel and Training norms.

He also spotlighted Project Sarathi, PGIMER’s pioneering NSS-led patient navigation initiative now expanded to 1,467 hospitals nationwide under MyBharat.gov.in. Prof Lal reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to affordable care, with AMRIT stores fulfilling 85% of medicine demand and a new pharmacy coming up near the Emergency Block.

The upcoming Advanced Neurosciences Centre OPD was set to begin operations within three months, and extended OT hours had already led to a 30–40% rise in surgical procedures, he said.