Latest news with #PGI
Indian Express
19 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Efforts on to reopen GMSH-16 drug de-addiction centre closed for 5 years
The Chandigarh administration has once again initiated efforts to reopen the drug de-addiction centre at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, which has remained closed for the last five years. The health department has been asked to make arrangements, but due to a shortage of psychiatrists, the centre is yet to become operational. According to Dr Suman Singh, Director of Health Services, a proposal has already been sent to the administration for the recruitment of two psychiatrists. She mentioned that the department currently has only two psychiatrists who are already overloaded with patient cases, making it impossible to run the de-addiction centre with the existing staff. Therefore, additional dedicated staff is essential. This de-addiction centre at GMSH was first opened around 10 years ago but had to be shut during the Covid-19 pandemic when the facility was converted into a Covid care centre. Since then, the lack of psychiatrists and other staff has prevented its reopening. The facility is equipped with 10 beds, but to operate efficiently, it requires 24×7 staff, including psychiatrists and clinical psychologists. As only two psychiatrists are available for all psychiatric and addiction cases, managing the high patient load from the entire region is a challenge. Drug and alcohol abuse remain a major issue in this region, contributing to the rising number of addiction patients. Despite the rising numbers, PGI remains the only public institution offering full-scale addiction treatment, while GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 offer basic psychiatric services. In 2023, PGI's Drug De-addiction and Treatment Centre recorded 36,683 OPD visits, 12,570 from Chandigarh and 24,112 from neighbouring states. Approximately 246 patients were admitted for inpatient treatment, with a significant number from Punjab. In Punjab, the highest use is of opioids, with synthetic drugs now also being used more frequently. Subodh B N, Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatry, PGI, says that a decade ago, 80 per cent of cases were of alcohol dependency. Still, now the percentage is 50, as the use of opioids and cannabis has increased, with PGI offering patients Opioid Substitution Therapy. Doctors stress that without dedicated staff and proper infrastructure, the situation will continue to push patients toward unregulated private de-addiction centres, especially in Punjab. Reopening GMSH's de-addiction centre remains a critical need, but hiring qualified professionals continues to be a major hurdle.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Student's stabbing in Chandigarh: School rivalry turned brutal, 2 minors held
Chandigarh: In a chilling turn of events last Friday, a routine walk home turned into a nightmare for a Class-11 student in Chandigarh's Sector 50. The victim, critically injured in a brutal stabbing, now battles for his life at PGI — the victim of a violent fallout from a school washroom brawl. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The attackers? Two juveniles, now in police custody, who allegedly ambushed Shivam around 2:15 pm, armed with knives and riding a Splendor motorcycle. The motive: revenge. The method: ruthless. The Sector 49 police launched a full-scale investigation, scouring footage from over 110 CCTV cameras and digging through offender records. What they uncovered was a trail of tension that began days earlier inside school walls — and ended in blood on the streets. The scene was first discovered by a neighbour, Nandini, who ran to inform victim's father, Sunil Kumar, a tailor by profession. Rushing to the spot with a taxi driver, Sunil found his son bleeding profusely near the dividing road between Sector 49 and 50. The victim, barely conscious, named his attackers — three unknown boys on a two-wheeler who tried to kill him. Police later recovered a dagger knife, a motorcycle, a stone, and the clothes worn by the juveniles — grim evidence of a premeditated attack.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Amid complaints, PGI delays uploading Amrit medicine rates online
1 2 Chandigarh: Despite a year passing since the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) announced its decision to upload the rates of medicines supplied by Amrit (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) on its website to prevent overcharging, the initiative remains incomplete. Sources indicate that the PGI administration is still in the process of implementing this crucial transparency measure, even as complaints of Amrit stores overcharging patients compared to the open market continue to surface. PGI boasts the largest network of Amrit stores in the country, with nine outlets operating within its premises. A significant point of contention arises from the allocation of a prime retail space at the PGI emergency. This space, which previously commanded a monthly rental of Rs 2 crore, was reportedly shut down and re-allotted to Amrit two years ago at a significantly reduced rental of not more than Rs 1 lakh per month. A faculty member, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, "The rental to Amrit is not more than Rs 1 lakh per month. Consequently, the drug prices should be the lowest, or any profit generated by these stores should benefit PGI and the patients." The absence of real-time drug rates displayed publicly has seemingly created an environment where several drug stores within the hospital are allegedly taking advantage of the high patient footfall, leading to instances of overcharging. "Patients, often in vulnerable situations, are left without a clear reference point for fair pricing, making them susceptible to inflated costs. The delay in uploading the rates online exacerbates this issue, leaving patients without the promised safeguard against fleecing," said a faculty member. The PGI administration has yet to provide a concrete timeline for the completion of the online rate upload. MSID:: 122840824 413 |
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
PGI's digital upgrade hits wall, IT firm backs out of pact
1 2 Chandigarh: A long-awaited leap into the digital age for the PGI has hit a major roadblock. The ambitious project to fully digitalise the hospital and its records, entrusted to C-DAC Noida, was derailed after the agency reportedly backed out of its all-inclusive agreement, now offering only software for the Hospital Information System (HIS) Version 2. This unexpected turn effectively halted the much-needed upgrade from the 2007 Version 1. Sources in the premier institute said the ambitious project, intended to digitalise all hospital operations and patient records, was derailed after C-DAC Noida, the agency initially entrusted with the task, reneged on its comprehensive agreement. Renegotiations with C-DAC Noida are underway, but the timeline for resolving this critical issue remains uncertain. When PGI officials were questioned about the prevalent situation, they remained tight-lipped. Sources close to the development indicate that C-DAC Noida, which was contracted for an all-inclusive solution, is now only willing to provide the software component for the HIS Version 2. This unexpected shift effectively halted the much-needed transition from the outdated 2007 Version 1 of the HIS. "PGI is stuck," a source revealed, emphasising the impossibility of implementing HIS Version 2 without the necessary accompanying components. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it. Play Game Undo The original memorandum of understanding (MoU) with C-DAC Noida is now in question regarding its full scope. The PGI administration apprised the union ministry of health and family welfare of the urgent need for a separate vendor to supply the essential hardware and manpower required for the digitalisation. While this request was initially accepted verbally, it was subsequently rejected by the ministry, forcing PGI back to the negotiating table with C-DAC. The hospital's digital infrastructure is in dire need of an overhaul. Key requirements include thousands of new network points, modern desktops, and printers. Furthermore, the existing network infrastructure, comprising old switches and hubs, has reached its end-of-life, posing a significant bottleneck to any digital expansion. A major concern also revolves around data security. With plans to eventually migrate to cloud-based servers, PGI officials are apprehensive about losing direct control over their security protocols, a critical consideration for sensitive patient data. BOX: Audit helped discover glitches HIS 2 will cover the queue management, digitalisation of patients' records, and all biochemical and laboratory investigations. In 2023, the AIIMS online system was hacked, and thereafter the GOI focused on strengthening online security. The PGI thereafter got its auditing done and found the underground cables and other infrastructure outdated and incompatible with the existing software. AIIMS found BEL as the vendor for its complete digitalisation and will soon start the process. MSID:: 122816830 413 |
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
After months of talks, PGI clears Rs 10cr in property tax
1 2 Chandigarh: After months of persistent follow-ups, notices, and negotiations, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has finally cleared a major chunk of its long-standing property tax dues. In a landmark move, PGI deposited Rs 10.28 crore to the Chandigarh municipal corporation, the highest single payment made by any government or private entity to the civic body in the current financial year. The payment follows a detailed reconciliation process between PGI and MC officials, involving multiple meetings, document exchanges, and field visits. The total arrears calculated stood at Rs 24 crore, of which PGI has now paid nearly half. According to MC records, several key government institutions still owe the civic body over Rs 100 crore in property tax and service charges. Among the top defaulters are Panjab University (Rs 60 crore), the engineering department of Chandigarh administration (Rs 17 crore), and Chandigarh Railway Station (Rs 3 crore). The Chandigarh Golf Club also features on the list with significant dues. These entities failed to clear their dues during the April–May rebate period and now face a 25% penalty on the total amount, along with 12% annual interest. The MC has already revised the tax figures to include these charges. Meanwhile, the MC has collected over Rs 75 crore so far this financial year — Rs 48 crore from commercial properties and Rs 27 crore from residential ones. Over 850 notices have been issued to residential defaulters (Rs 11 crore dues), and 600+ notices to commercial defaulters (Rs 6.5 crore dues). **Box: Some of the top govt tax defaulters in MC's record.** Government Entity-----------------------------Tax arrears (amount approximate) 1: Panjab University-------------------------68.85 crore 2: PGI-------------------------------------------14.00 crore 3: Chandigarh administration------------16.26 crore 5: Chandigarh Railway Station----------2.98 crore MSID:: 122818584 413 |
