Chandigarh: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has received both environmental and fire safety clearances for its Neurosciences Centre, clearing the way for the facility to become operational. The institute plans to start outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) services at the centre by March this year.Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh, is set to launch its long-awaited Advanced Neuroscience Centre, a state-of-the-art facility aimed at addressing the country’s dire shortage of neurologists and neurosurgeons.Also Read:Advanced Neuroscience Centre at PGI Chandigarh to begin operations by SeptemberConfirming the development, Pankaj Rai, deputy director of Administration at PGIMER, said that while all mandatory clearances have been obtained, the commissioning of emergency services is currently dependent on the installation of CT scan and MRI machines. Due to this, PGIMER is considering a phased launch of the centre, reports the Indian Express.As per the news reports, initially, outpatient (OPD) and inpatient (IPD) services for neurology and neurosurgery patients are expected to commence at the new centre, while emergency neurological services will continue to operate from the existing Nehru Hospital building. Emergency services will be shifted to the Neurosciences Centre only after the CT and MRI machines become fully operational, as these are critical for managing severe neurological cases.
Rai stated that the clearances are in place, but emergency neurological care cannot function safely without the facilities of a CT scan and MRI, adding that the institute aims to begin OPD and IPD services first and will shift emergency care once the equipment is installed.
Currently, most neurology patients, particularly those with head injuries, are admitted to the trauma centre. Once the Neurosciences Centre becomes functional, these patients will be shifted there, easing the burden on the trauma centre and facilitating the expansion of trauma and emergency OPD services at PGIMER.
The six-storey Neurosciences Centre has a capacity of around 300 beds and will house neurology and neurosurgery services under one roof. The facility is expected to cater not only to patients from Chandigarh but also to those from across north India, where the demand for specialised neurological care is increasing rapidly.Also Read:AB PMJAY boosts access to complex spine surgeries, PGI study revealsPGIMER data highlights a growing patient load: neurology OPD visits rose from 44,862 in 2021 to 68,457 in 2022, and further to 82,587 in 2023. The institute is also in the process of procuring advanced medical equipment, including AI-based technologies.
