Health Ministry urges Chandigarh PGI Director to accelerate Civic Projects

The Standing Finance Committee (SFC) of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has urged the institute's director to speed up various civic projects, notably the critical care block, to ensure they are completed on time. The SFC observed during its 129th meeting on March 12 that while other central institutes had begun work on the critical care block sanctioned under the PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), PGIMER had not initiated the project.

Call for timely execution:

The Union health ministry, in a letter to PGIMER director Dr. Vivek Lal, emphasized the need for regular inspection and monitoring of civil works to ensure their timely completion. The ministry's recommendation came after it was noted that PGIMER was lagging behind in starting work on the critical care block, despite being allocated a budget of ₹200 crores.
The critical care block, which is part of the PM-ABHIM initiative, aims to address the shortage of ICU beds in the country, particularly highlighted during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. The block will include emergency areas, ICUs, isolation wards, operation theatres, and facilities for maternal and newborn care. It will also feature essential infrastructure such as medical gas pipelines, oxygen generation plants, and mechanisms for infection prevention and control.
Apart from the critical care block, PGIMER is also working on several other civic projects, including an advanced neuroscience center, a mother and child center, and satellite centers in Una, Himachal Pradesh, and Ferozepur. However, the establishment of a 150-bed critical care block at PGIMER is still pending.

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Administrative strengthening:

The ministry also advised PGIMER to enhance overall administration and monitoring and expedite pending works related to the operationalization of satellite centers. Additionally, it stressed the swift appointment of the dean of academics and senior professors to the governing body to ensure the smooth functioning of the institute.
However, the appointment process for the dean of academics and senior professors is facing delays due to an ongoing legal case in the Central Administrative Tribunal, with a resolution expected on May 7. The appointment of senior professors is contingent upon the resolution of this case, as the selection of the most senior faculty member depends on it. In conclusion, PGIMER has been urged to accelerate its civic projects, especially the critical care block, to meet the pressing healthcare needs of the community and ensure efficient administration and governance.

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