‘Every patient is our responsibility and we are going strong’: PGI Director Vivek Lal

In 2024, the PGI witnessed several strikes, which put pressure on the system and posed various challenges in patient care; however, work continued uninterrupted at the emergency and trauma services. “We did not succumb to any strikes. We are proud that we kept the momentum going,” says Prof Lal. “Every step taken in 2024 will enhance the quality of patient care, whether it be shelters built for patients, special enclosures to protect them from heat and cold, or the Sarthi project where volunteers assist patients. For patients from Himachal Pradesh, the cashless HIMCARE initiative launched by the PGI this year has been a remarkable success. The transition to a cashless system has significantly reduced the financial stress on patients, allowing them to focus solely on their recovery,” the Director says.

In 2025, adds Prof. Lal, two major projects will be finalised that will provide patients from all over the country with state-of-the-art facilities and medical care — a 300-bed Advanced Neurosciences Centre and an Advanced Mother and Child Care Centre. The Advanced Neurosciences Centre will offer new and upgraded services under one roof. The plan is to start neuro-critical care and emergency neurology services and run fully equipped 25-bed critical care units once the department shifts to the Advanced Neurosciences Centre. The Neurology Department will also run independent 24-hour emergency services, for which 15 beds have been allocated. Among the new services available here will be an autonomic laboratory, essential for the proper management of patients suffering from peripheral nervous system disorders.

With the opening of this centre, neurology patients seeking admission and treatment in the Emergency and Trauma Centre will be transferred here, easing the rising patient load. This will pave the way for the expansion of the trauma centre and emergency medical OPD, which, according to Prof. Lal, has been in the pipeline given the increasing number of patients.

The Advanced Mother and Child Care Centre promises to offer world-class facilities in maternal and neonatal care. A human milk bank, advanced infertility treatment, robotic surgery, critical care obstetrics, and a Level IV NICU designed according to current international NICU design specifications are among the highlights of this centre.
With parking a major inconvenience for people, a multi-level parking facility near the New OPD is nearing completion. Approved in 2015 but delayed for nine years, the facility will accommodate around 850 vehicles. The New OPD sees over 10,000 patient registrations daily, with over 20,000 vehicles entering the campus each day. “The parking issue is critical, and the new facility is expected to provide much-needed relief,” Prof. Lal adds.

A project, which is the need of the hour, is the establishment of a 150-bed Critical Care Block at the PGI under the PM-ABHIM. The 152-bed facility, for which tenders have been floated, will be built at a cost of Rs 243 crore and will cater to those in critical condition, ensuring advanced treatment facilities. The Critical Care Block will be a multi-specialty facility with ICUs and isolation wards, a surgical unit, and step-down units (SDUs) for patients requiring specialised care, with the target for this project being 26 months. “Our journey over the last year has been nothing short of extraordinary. We have embraced the challenges presented by the unprecedented surge in patient volume while continuing our commitment to delivering superior healthcare. 2024 will be pivotal not only for our continued excellence in patient care, research, and academic excellence but also as a moment of justice for our dedicated outsourced workers,” he said.

“With the approval and disbursal of Rs 76 crore from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, we have addressed the long-standing demands for their arrears. We are moving in the right direction and look forward to the year with a spirit of hope and health,” Professor Lal sums up.