PGI celebrates six decades of healthcare
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) commemorated its 62nd foundation day with a grand celebration at the NINE auditorium, reflecting on its legacy, achievements and continued commitment to excellence in healthcare, research and innovation.
Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Health Research, and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), was the chief guest on the occasion, while renowned pulmonologist and Professor Emeritus Dr D Behera, also president of National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, was the guest of honour.
In his keynote address, themed “Creating More Physician Scientists and Innovators in Leading Medical Institutes”, Dr Bahl lauded the PGIMER’s remarkable contribution to the nation’s medical innovation ecosystem. “The PGIMER at Chandigarh is truly a national treasure — a hub where the brightest minds converge to push the boundaries of medical science. Securing 74 research grants in just two years — nearly half of them focused on developing new interventions and technologies — speaks volumes about the institute’s relentless pursuit of excellence,” he stated.
Dr Bahl praised PGIMER’s leadership in conducting phase one clinical trials outside the private sector, underscoring the institution’s pivotal role in translating research into real-world healthcare solutions. “This ability to take cutting-edge therapies from the bench to the bedside is what will make India a global leader in medical R&D,” he emphasised.
Highlighting the importance of integrating research with clinical practice, Dr Bahl called for stronger collaboration between engineers, doctors and the industry. He pointed to ICMR’s partnerships with IITs, AIIMS and other leading institutions, which led to globally recognised innovations like the infrared hematoma detector and Mobi-lab. “These are not just innovations, but proof of India’s leadership in healthcare technology, acknowledged even by global figures like Bill Gates,” he remarked.
He also reiterated ICMR’s vision for Viksit Bharat, asserting, “Our aim is to support Indian scientists and entrepreneurs in developing first-in-the-world technologies. With new challenge grants and patent support programmes, we are nurturing a culture of innovation that can redefine global health.”
In his welcome address, PGIMER Director Prof Vivek Lal paid tribute to the visionaries who founded the institute. “To remain on the pedestal we have achieved, we must uphold the same fierce commitment and remorseless motivation as our founding fathers,” he said. He noted that despite infrastructural constraints, the institute continued to thrive on the strength of its human capital and collective determination.
The celebration also served as a platform to honour 31 dedicated PGIMER employees for their exemplary service across various departments. The awards were conferred by Dr Rajiv Bahl, Dr D Behera, Prof Lal, Dean (Academics) Prof RK Ratho and Dean (Research) Prof Sanjay Jain. Recipients included hospital attendants, administrative officers, nurses, technicians, pharmacists and other support staff whose contributions underpin the institute’s smooth functioning and patient care. Prof Jain proposed the vote of thanks.
The PGIMER was established in 1962 with the vision of providing world-class medical education, research and healthcare services. Conceived under the leadership of then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Punjab’s Chief Minister Partap Singh Kairon, and modelled on the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, PGIMER began its journey with a focus on postgraduate training across various medical and paramedical disciplines. The institute was inaugurated on July 7, 1963, by Jawaharlal Nehru. Over the decades, the PGIMER evolved into a premier hub of medical education and research.
In upcoming years, it will expand to Sarangpur with a medical college in 50 acres. Presently, two more dedicated centres — neurosciences and mother & child care — are near completion.
Chandigarh