Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research
Motto	Service to the Community, Care of the Needy and Research for the Good of All
Established	1962
Type	Autonomous Institution, Deemed University (which can give its own degree by an act of Parliament of India)
Director	Prof Vinay Sakhuja
Location	Chandigarh, India

 Web              www.pgimer.nic.in

Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is one of the most prestigious medical and research institutions of Asia. Located in Chandigarh, India, it is globally recognized for its quality education, medical research and training facilities as well as for the excellence of its graduates. It was established as an institute of national importance by an Act of Parliament. PGIMER was conceived in 1960 as a center of excellence which would endeavor to develop patterns of teaching in postgraduate medical education in as many branches as possible and attempt to produce specialists in several disciplines of medicine. It was also envisaged that these specialists would spread out in the country and abroad, in various medical colleges and medical institutions, and impart medical education of the highest standard to the students and set up nucleus of excellence in their own institutions. The PGIMER was also given the responsibility to broaden the horizons of medical knowledge by intensive research in the field of health.

PGIMER is both an educational institute that imparts postgraduate medical training in several disciplines and a working hospital that provides inexpensive medical care to a large number of patients.

History

The PGIMER owes its inception to the vision of late Sardar Pratap Singh Kairon, the then Chief Minister of Punjab and a distinguished medical educationist of the then combined state of Punjab, alongside the support of the first Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. The institute started in 1962 and Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru inaugurated the hospital, on 7 July 1963. The Institute was originally under the Government of undivided Punjab. After the reorganization of the state, the administrative control of the institute passed on to the Union Territory of Chandigarh in November 1966. The Institute became an autonomous body under the Act of the Parliament of India in 1967 functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, with the following mandate.

1.Provide high quality patient care.

2.Attain self-sufficiency in postgraduate medical education and to meet the country’s need for highly qualified medical teachers in all medical and surgical fields.

3.Provide educational facilities for the training of personnel in all-important branches of health activity.

4.Undertake community based research (leading to publications in more than 600 international journals.

The Institute is continuing to achieve the objective of service to the community, care of the needy and research for the good of all. The Institute has shown the way to the entire nation in the sphere of health care and medical training. Since 2008 the Institute has been an official supporting organisation of HIFA2015 (Healthcare Information For All by 2015), a global initiative to improve availability and use of reliable healthcare information in low- and middle-income countries.

Patient care and Research

The Nehru Hospital, the most vital part of the Institute, caters to the need of very sick and has about 50,000 annual admissions. The Institute has important diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, which are important compliments to the parallel clinical specialties.

A comprehensive emergency department (140 bedded) with divisions catering to medical, pediatric, surgical emergencies and trauma round the clock is a remarkable feature of the Institute. The new emergency block has attached laboratory, X-ray and operation theatre facilities. The department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging has facilities for MRI, CT scan, ultrasound and caters to the emergency services besides the routine service.

The Institute is actively involved in the community health services. The department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health along with departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology are busy conducting studies pertaining to the community health needs.

Advanced Pediatric Centre (300 bedded) is a multi speciality facility dedicated to the care of children. The centre which was inaugurated in 1997 by Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, the then president of India has been equipped with modern facilities for treatment, teaching and research. The centre provides a 24 hours emergency service and a pediatric intensive care unit. It has a separate pediatric outpatient department. The centre provides speciality services in the field of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Neurology, Allergy and Immunology, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Genetics and metabolic diseases. The department also has a super specialty of Neonatology with Neonatal Intensive Care facilities.

Super speciality of Gastroenterology is housed in a separate wing of the building with all modern facilities for treatment, teaching and research. The department has its own laboratory facilities - biochemistry, enzymology, microbiology, virology, radiology and pathology services. In addition, the department has a full-fledged section of pediatric gastroenterology.

Drug de-addiction and treatment centre has well functioning outpatient, inpatient, and outreach components. Active liaison with fellowship groups and other centres is maintained which in turn helps in the aftercare, rehabilitation, and manpower development.

Round the clock emergency services are provided for issue of blood and blood components. Mobile unit of the department of Transfusion Medicine conducts voluntary blood donation camps within and outside Chandigarh.

New OPD Block houses most of the out patient departments which are fully functional. It also has physiotherapy services, minor operation theatres for short surgical procedures. It also houses the DOTS centre for giving supervised treatment to patients of tuberculosis.

Advanced Eye Centre was inaugrated by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Hon'ble Vice President of India in the august presence of Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss Hon'ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday, March 18, 2006. The Advanced Eye Centre has introduced several new advanced technologies, some of which are among the first in India and include Optical Coherence Tomography, Heidelberg Retinal Tomography, Preferential Hyperacuity Perimetry, Confocal Specular Microscopy, Eye Bank Specular Microscopy, Fluorescein and Indocyanine Green Angiography, Variety of Lasers, Computerized Perimeteric Techniques, Frequency Doubling Technique for Perimetery, High Resolution Ultrasonography, Ultrasonic Biomcroscopy, Corneal Topography, Automated Computerized Refractors and highly sophisticated electrophysiological techniques. All sophisticated ocular surgical procedures viz: IOL Implants for complicated cataracts, Lasik Surgery for removal of refractive errors, Trauma Surgery, Oculoplastic Surgical Procedures, Endoscopic DCR surgery, Galucoma and Vitreo Retinal Surgery including Laser Surgery for premature babies even in the incubators are routinely performed. Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Retinoblastoma has been introduced. Research Block A & B Known for 24 hours work culture and research on most dreadful diseases.

Advanced Cardiac Centre is a 175-bedded fully functional wing of the hospital that has four cath-labs and four Operating Theaters.

PGIMER, Chandigarh recently started a Clinical Pharmacology Unit (CPU) to undertake research in the field of new drug development. This Unit will conduct early phase clinical trials including Phase 1 trials, bioavailability and bioequivalence studies on new drugs in healthy volunteers as well as patients. This is a small, 4-bedded Unit that is fully equipped to conduct state-of-the-art clinical research. The Unit is managed by Clinical Pharmacologists, Internists and faculty from Intensive Care.

Teaching and training

The Institute has met the objective of providing educational facilities for the training of both medical and non-medical personnel in all the important branches of health activity. The Institute has attained self sufficiency in postgraduate medical education and runs a continuous, full-time residency program in most of the specialties of medical sciences, e.g., medicine, surgery, pathology, microbiology etc.

There is a full-fledged institute of nursing called National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE) which imparts quality nursing education.

The Institute is involved in research for the rural and community related environment and health problems. There has been a steady progress in developing new research methods and strategies for the benefit of patients. The focus of research has been on tackling diseases like diarrhoea, tuberculosis, malaria, amoebiasis, HIV, leprosy, hepatitis, anaemia, leukaemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, thalassemia, dental caries, stone disease, cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Various modern techniques are available to conduct studies like flow cytometry, chromatography (HPLC, FPLC), molecular biology, positron emission tomography (PET) and genetic studies.

Every year nearly 400 research articles are published for the Institute in national and international journals.

A number of departments have been designated as research centres by WHO and various national agencies. WHO designated centres include:

• (Community Medicine)/(School of Public Health, PGIMER) is one of the best departments imparting training to public health professionals of various categories including MD in Community Medicine and MPH, affiliated by WHO. The department is also involved in world class research on burning public health issues.
• Clinical research in human reproduction (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
• Mental Health Centre (Psychiatry)
• Quality Control in Clinical Chemistry (Biochemistry)
• Coagulation (Haematology)
• Clinical Parasitology
• Blood Transfusion and Haematology

The Institute has been recognized by the National AIDS Control Organisation and has a voluntary testing and counseling centre (VCTC) on the fourth floor of research A block. The institute provides free drugs for treatment of HIV patients.

The founders of this Institute — Prof. Tulsi Das, Prof. Santokh Singh Anand, Prof. PN Chuttani, Prof. BN Aikat, Prof. Sant Ram Dhall and Prof. Bala Krishna — laid the path of excellence for the Institute.

Admission process

Admission to the post-graduate courses (MD/MS) conducted at PGIMER is through a nationwide competitive entrance examination held every six months. Each year more than 20,000 medical graduates across the country compete for a limited number of positions Approximately 1% to 2% of the candidates are selected, making it one of the most competitive tests across all fields in India.

Medical courses

These courses are known for the quality and rigour of the training to prepare the medical graduates worldwide because of the institution's excellent medical services, research and integration.

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

Anaesthesia, Biochemistry, Community Medicine, Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology, Medicine, Microbiology, Nuclear Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Radio-diagnosis, Pathology, Pharmacology, Radiotherapy, Transfusion Medicine, Forensic Medicine

Master of Surgery (MS)

Surgery, Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology,Anantomy

MDS

Orthodontics, Pedodontia & Preventive Dentistry

Masters in Hospital Administration (MHA)

Masters in Public Health (MPH)

DM

Cardiac Anaesthesia, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Neurology, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Clinical Pharmacology, Neonatology, Pediatric Critical care and Pediatric Hemato-Oncology

Mch

Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Paediatric Surgery, Urology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Plastic Surgery

MSc.

Medical Biotechnology (DST funded), Biochemistry, Pharmacology

Courses offered

The PGIMER offers a lot of courses at Undergraduate, Graduate and Doctoral levels. The courses offered include

At Undergraduate AND Postgraduate level the courses offered include:

M.Sc in Medical Biotechnology 2 year course, known for its quality Research

Course	Duration
B.Sc. Med. Tech.(Laboratory)	3 Years
B.Sc. Med. Tech.(X-Ray)	3 Years
B.Sc.Audiology& Speech Therapy	3 Years
B.Sc.Med.Tech.Radio-therapy	3 Years
Bachelor of PhysicalTherapies (B.Ph.T)	4 and 1/2 years Including internship
Operation TheatreAsstt.	1 year
B.Sc.Nursing	4 years                    Age 17-25 years
B.Sc.Nursing             (Post Basic)	2 yearsexamination recognized by the Punjab University.
Three years

Short term training	General Information	Fee
Private Doctors	Candidates are accepted for short-termattachment for varying periods (maximum up to 6 months). They can only act as observers. The Institute also accepts candidates deputed by W.H.O. for training in various specialties.	Rs 10000/-per month
State Government sponsored Doctors	-do-	Rs 2000/- per month

Application form 

Elective Training

The Institute also accepts medical students from various countries for elective training in any of the departments of the Institute. Clearance from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and Medical Council of India, New Delhi is required before the students are accepted. The whole process takes about 3-4 months. Students are required to apply well in advance. The following documents need to be enclosed with their applications:

i) Letter of sponsorship from the college authorities where studying.

ii) Three copies of passport.

iii) Bank Draft of Rs 500/- in the name of Secretary, Medical Council of India, New Delhi.

Application Form for Elective Training 

The institute was established in 1962

Notable faculty and alumni

• Prof. BNS Walia, eminent Paediatrician
• Prof. KK Talwar, eminent Cardiologist and former director of the Institute
• Prof. ON Bhakoo, father of Neonatology in India
• Dr. Brian J. Pereira, president and chief executive officer of the Advanced Magnetics and president of the National Kidney Foundation of the United States of America
• Prof. Rajesh Kumar, eminent epidemiologist and public health specialist in India