Latest news with #ProjectSarathi
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
PGI launches Sarathi feedback app to monitor patient experience of volunteer assistance
In a move to further enhance patient support services, the PGIMER's flagship volunteer initiative, 'Project Sarathi,' has now been expanded beyond the National Service Scheme (NSS) framework to welcome all interested student volunteers, encouraging broader community participation in patient care. In another key development, the institute has launched a dedicated mobile application for collecting patient feedback. The Sarathi feedback app will now be made available to each volunteer, who will gather real-time feedback from patients and attendants after offering them assistance. This data will enable the administration to make informed decisions and continually improve the quality of services. Sharing his thoughts on the application, Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, stated: 'Project Sarathi has been a heartening example of how structured community involvement can transform hospital services. The expansion of volunteer participation and the launch of the feedback app is another step in our commitment to patient-centred care and continuous improvement'. Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director (Administration), PGIMER, said that the decision to expand beyond the NSS was taken considering the consistently positive response received through daily interactions among Sarathi volunteers, hospital staff, and patients. 'Recognising the immense value that volunteers bring in simplifying the patient journey at PGIMER, the institute is now opening the doors for students from all academic backgrounds and institutions to be part of this compassionate initiative,' Rai added. 'Project Sarathi, since its inception, has played a vital role in assisting patients and their families in navigating the large and often complex PGI system. Volunteers serve as a vital link, particularly for those from rural or underserved backgrounds, by offering clear guidance, emotional reassurance, and human connection during stressful times,' he further said. Interested student volunteers eager to contribute to this cause can send their requests and details via email to ddapgi@ This new structure aims to cultivate a stronger, more inclusive team of young change makers dedicated to patient welfare. 'The updated feedback app will enhance communication, ensuring transparency and responsiveness. The PGIMER reaffirms its commitment to participatory healthcare and responsive governance, driven by student initiative and innovative technology,' Rai concluded.
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
To make hospital visits smoother, PGI to launch smart app for crowd management and hospital navigation
Vivek Lal, director, PGIMER, has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to redefine patient experience and hospital functioning, with the highlight being the announcement of a smart mobile application developed in collaboration with C-DAC Noida. The upcoming app will integrate real-time indoor mapping, QR code-based patient identification, and crowd management features to streamline hospital navigation and reduce wait times. 'This app will transform how we serve our patients and manage hospital systems. It is designed to make hospital visits smoother, more efficient, and patient-friendly,' stated Lal. He also shared significant progress on the institute's digital transformation journey, including the complete digitisation of the Hospital Information System, which now handles processes such as indenting and medicine procurement under schemes like Ayushman Bharat entirely online, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency. To ease payment systems, the effort is to introduce scan and share bill payments and online payments. The PGI director elaborated on the institute's robust infrastructure pipeline, led by the Rs-987 crore Sarangpur project that will house a new 100-seat medical college, modern OPDs for 16,000 patients, and a 200-bed emergency block. Additional developments include an all-weather swimming pool for staff and students, a trolley way to streamline patient transfers between high-traffic blocks, and a doctors' cafeteria soon to open on the fourth floor of A Block. 'When opened in July 1987, it had 10 seats and till now that has not changed, we are now going to have a new cafeteria with many amenities,' he added. Lal emphasised that the PGIMER is also addressing rising patient loads, especially in emergency and trauma care, by securing approval to recruit 300 ex-servicemen through outsourcing over the next four to five months to strengthen campus security. Additionally, 82 new faculty members have been recruited strictly as per DoPT norms, including EWS reservation, reinforcing the institute's commitment to transparency and meritocracy. The director spotlighted Project Sarathi — PGIMER's flagship NSS student-led patient navigation initiative. Now scaled across 34 states with over 6,400 active volunteers, the Sarathi based model has been green lit for expansion to 1,467 hospitals nationwide under reaffirming PGIMER's role in mobilizing youth for social commitment through compassionate care. The institute's focus on affordable healthcare also continues, with nine AMRIT stores accounting for 85 per cent of all medicine sales on campus, and a new AMRIT Pharmacy facility set to open near the Emergency Block to ensure uninterrupted access to subsidised medicines under Ayushman Bharat and PMJAY. The director further informed that the institute is set to operationalise the OPD of the upcoming Advanced Neurosciences Centre within three months, with equipment procurement under review. There was a proposal to procure an AI-enabled MRI machine for the centre, but due to budget constraints, the institute was told by the SFC to revisit the cost. 'The machines for the upcoming Mother and Child Centre have already been procured, and only 8 per cent of the work is now remaining, and the centre should be operational by early next year,' Lal added. Meanwhile, the construction of the Sarangpur satellite centre is progressing steadily, with completion expected in about three years. He also spoke about the Sangrur Satellite Centre of PGIMER, which now offers dialysis, cancer, gynaecology and gall bladder surgeries, knee replacements, with a designated bus stop here to help patients access the hospital. The director also lauded the medical team from the institute that included, doctors, nurses, paramedics and transport staff, for their exemplary courage in responding to the Jammu & Kashmir humanitarian crisis during Operation Sindoor. 'Every initiative, whether digital, structural, or social, is driven by a singular goal: to ease suffering, deliver equitable, high-quality care, and prepare our institution for the future, all while keeping the patient at the centre of everything we do,' Lal said.
Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
PGI proposes to transfer management of hospital canteens to IRCTC
PGI is exploring innovative solutions to revamp its service systems. As part of this initiative, a proposal has been put forward to transfer the management of hospital canteens to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). This move aims to enhance quality, hygiene standards, and customer satisfaction through professional management and proven operational excellence. 'There is a pressing need to overhaul our service delivery systems to better serve our patients and staff. Partnering with IRCTC, known for its robust catering and hospitality services, could be a significant step forward in this direction,' said Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director (Administration), PGI. Rai added, 'In line with the institute's commitment to continuous improvement, PGI has already engaged student volunteers under Project Sarathi to help manage patient inflow, which has proven to be beneficial.' PGI has received approval to hire 300 ex-servicemen as security personnel, who will be deployed at all critical areas to supplement the existing security team. 'These security personnel will be hired within a month, and this initiative will further enhance our ability to manage patient and visitor well-being more effectively,' stated Rai. Recognising that PGIR's environment safety, hygiene, and service quality are paramount, the institute has adopted a zero-tolerance stance toward any lapses or misconduct by contractors engaged in providing essential services such as canteen and parking facilities. In recent weeks, PGI has identified some instances of non-compliance and negligence by contractors that jeopardise the safety and comfort of those on campus. In response, the institute has initiated stringent action against erring contractors, including issuing termination orders where necessary. These measures are part of PGI's broader drive to uphold the highest standards of service and to ensure that patient care is not compromised by ancillary service deficiencies. The institute's administration has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of patients, attendants, staff, and visitors. Prof Vivek Lal, Director PGI, stated, 'Patient safety and overall well-being are our top priorities. Any breach of contractual obligations that compromises the hospital environment will be dealt with firmly and decisively. We are dedicated to maintaining a secure, clean, and efficient environment for everyone at PGI, be it patients, researchers, or students. Any contractor found negligent or non-compliant will face appropriate action, including criminal proceedings if the situation warrants.' Additionally, the institute's administration has assured that all contractual arrangements will be regularly monitored, any irregularities will be dealt with firmly, and that these measures strive to maintain the highest standards of service delivery.
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
To make hospital visits smoother, PGI Chandigarh to launch smart app for crowd management and hospital navigation
Vivek Lal, director, PGIMER, has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to redefine patient experience and hospital functioning, with the highlight being the announcement of a smart mobile application developed in collaboration with C-DAC Noida. The upcoming app will integrate real-time indoor mapping, QR code-based patient identification, and crowd management features to streamline hospital navigation and reduce wait times. 'This app will transform how we serve our patients and manage hospital systems. It is designed to make hospital visits smoother, more efficient, and patient-friendly,' stated Lal. He also shared significant progress on the institute's digital transformation journey, including the complete digitisation of the Hospital Information System, which now handles processes such as indenting and medicine procurement under schemes like Ayushman Bharat entirely online, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency. To ease payment systems, the effort is to introduce scan and share bill payments and online payments. The PGI director elaborated on the institute's robust infrastructure pipeline, led by the Rs-987 crore Sarangpur project that will house a new 100-seat medical college, modern OPDs for 16,000 patients, and a 200-bed emergency block. Additional developments include an all-weather swimming pool for staff and students, a trolley way to streamline patient transfers between high-traffic blocks, and a doctors' cafeteria soon to open on the fourth floor of A Block. 'When opened in July 1987, it had 10 seats and till now that has not changed, we are now going to have a new cafeteria with many amenities,' he added. Lal emphasised that the PGIMER is also addressing rising patient loads, especially in emergency and trauma care, by securing approval to recruit 300 ex-servicemen through outsourcing over the next four to five months to strengthen campus security. Additionally, 82 new faculty members have been recruited strictly as per DoPT norms, including EWS reservation, reinforcing the institute's commitment to transparency and meritocracy. The director spotlighted Project Sarathi — PGIMER's flagship NSS student-led patient navigation initiative. Now scaled across 34 states with over 6,400 active volunteers, the Sarathi based model has been green lit for expansion to 1,467 hospitals nationwide under reaffirming PGIMER's role in mobilizing youth for social commitment through compassionate care. The institute's focus on affordable healthcare also continues, with nine AMRIT stores accounting for 85 per cent of all medicine sales on campus, and a new AMRIT Pharmacy facility set to open near the Emergency Block to ensure uninterrupted access to subsidised medicines under Ayushman Bharat and PMJAY. The director further informed that the institute is set to operationalise the OPD of the upcoming Advanced Neurosciences Centre within three months, with equipment procurement under review. There was a proposal to procure an AI-enabled MRI machine for the centre, but due to budget constraints, the institute was told by the SFC to revisit the cost. 'The machines for the upcoming Mother and Child Centre have already been procured, and only 8 per cent of the work is now remaining, and the centre should be operational by early next year,' Lal added. Meanwhile, the construction of the Sarangpur satellite centre is progressing steadily, with completion expected in about three years. He also spoke about the Sangrur Satellite Centre of PGIMER, which now offers dialysis, cancer, gynaecology and gall bladder surgeries, knee replacements, with a designated bus stop here to help patients access the hospital. The director also lauded the medical team from the institute that included, doctors, nurses, paramedics and transport staff, for their exemplary courage in responding to the Jammu & Kashmir humanitarian crisis during Operation Sindoor. 'Every initiative, whether digital, structural, or social, is driven by a singular goal: to ease suffering, deliver equitable, high-quality care, and prepare our institution for the future, all while keeping the patient at the centre of everything we do,' Lal said.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: After PGI, Project Sarathi to be implemented in 1,467 hospitals
Project Sarathi, a student volunteer initiative to help patients in hospital navigation, which was launched at PGIMER, Chandigarh, last year, will now be expanded to 34 states and Union Territories. PGIMER deputy director (administration) Pankaj Rai detailed that with the joint backing of the Union ministries of health and family welfare, and youth affairs and sports, a total of 1,467 hospitals had been approved for the project under 'Seva Se Seekhen', an experiential learning programme (ELP) in health, modelled on the concept of PGIMER's Project Sarathi, as listed on the MyBharat portal. As per the Union ministry of youth affairs and sports, the following states and UTs have either completed or have programmes ongoing based on the project's concept: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Of the 1,467 hospitals, implementation of ELP has been completed at 551 hospitals between September 17, 2024, and May 31, 2025. ELP is currently ongoing at 95 hospitals of which 81 are permanent health ELPs. Launched on May 5, 2024, Project Sarathi is a community service initiative aimed at improving patient experience by deploying student volunteers to assist in managing daily crowds, guiding patients within the hospital and easing OPD operations. The initiative involves 6,444 volunteers nationwide. A total of 816 students from 18 institutions, including 10 colleges and eight schools, have contributed over 50,340 hours in providing hospital navigation and support services at PGIMER. These efforts have led to the reduction in average patient wait time from 4.2 hours to 2.8 hours, according to a post-implementation impact study by PGIMER's department of community medicine.
