PGIMER Chandigarh hosts national meet on paediatric liver diseases, highlights rising clinical burden
Paediatric Gastroenterology division records more than 15,000 OPD visits, 3,000 procedures annually
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) on Sunday inaugurated a two-day international conference on paediatric liver diseases, setting a compelling context for the scale, urgency, and impact of the specialty at the institute.
The “Monothematic Conference on Paediatric Cholestasis and 4th Professor Saroj Mehta Memorial Oration” has been organised by the institute’s Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, bringing together leading experts from across the country and abroad to deliberate on critical challenges in paediatric cholestatic liver diseases.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Professor Sadhna Lal, Head of the division, noted that the department manages more than 15,000 outpatient visits annually, conducts around 3,000 endoscopic procedures, and handles more than 1,000 admissions each year.
Welcoming the gathering, Dr Lal underscored the department’s guiding philosophy, stating that “patient first” remains the core principle—every clinical and academic effort revolves around the child.
The inaugural session was also attended by Professor RK Ratho, Dean (Academics), Professor Nirmala D from the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Chennai, and Professor Surinder Rana from the Department of Gastroenterology, PGIMER.
The scientific programme has been structured to focus on improving outcomes of biliary atresia on the first day, covering discussions on early diagnosis, disease mechanisms, and surgical techniques such as Kasai portoenterostomy. The second day will expand into non-biliary causes, including genetic and metabolic liver disorders.
