PM to dedicate key healthcare infrastructure projects to nation on July 17: PGIMER Director

Chandigarh, Jul 13 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate key infrastructure projects at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) on July 17. Modi will dedicate to the nation the Advanced Mother and Child Centre and the Advanced Neurosciences Centre, besides laying the foundation stone for the 150-bed Critical Care Hospital Block. Together, these projects entail an investment of around Rs 1,200 crore. PGIMER Director Prof Vivek Lal on Monday said the occasion would be a defining milestone in the institute's journey towards healthcare excellence. "These centres represent a transformational leap in our ability to deliver advanced, accessible and affordable healthcare to millions of patients across north India," he said. Lal said the Advanced Mother and Child Centre (AMCC), constructed at a cost of Rs 505 crore, is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. "The 300-bed facility features advanced neonatal intensive care units, modular operation theatres and comprehensive maternal and neonatal services under one roof. It is expected to further strengthen PGIMER's capacity to manage over 6,000 high-risk deliveries annually," he said, thanking the Infosys Foundation for its contribution of Rs 147 crore to acquire advanced medical equipment. The Advanced Neurosciences Centre (ANC), another 300-bed facility, integrates neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neuroanaesthesia, neurocritical care and rehabilitation services under one roof. Equipped with 61 intensive care beds, modular operating theatres and advanced diagnostic facilities, the centre will significantly help in the treatment of complex neurological disorders. Highlighting its significance, Prof Lal said, "The ANC will substantially reduce treatment delays, improve survival and long-term neurological outcomes, and establish PGIMER as a leading national hub for neuroscience education, research and advanced clinical care." The prime minister will also lay the foundation stone for the 150-bed Critical Care Hospital Block, being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 244 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. Conceived in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the facility will enhance emergency preparedness and multidisciplinary critical care services. On the growing patient load at PGIMER, Lal said, "The increasing number of patients coming to PGIMER is a reflection of the trust people place in this institution. We consider it our responsibility to continuously expand our infrastructure and improve services so that no patient is deprived of quality healthcare." Highlighting the impact of the Ayushman Bharat initiative, he said, "The scheme has made several advanced treatments and complex surgical procedures financially accessible to patients who previously faced significant economic barriers." Underscoring the affordability of advanced treatment, he added, "PGIMER today stands as a testament to the fact that advanced healthcare need not be prohibitively expensive. Through Ayushman Bharat and our AMRIT pharmacies, several high-end medicines are available to patients at nearly one-three hundredth of the cost of their western counterparts, making life-saving treatment accessible to those who need it the most." PTI SUN RUK RUK