JP Nadda reviews newly inaugurated healthcare facilities at PGIMER, lauds SARATHI volunteers for patient-centric service
Chandigarh, July 17
Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday reviewed the newly inaugurated Advanced Mother and Child Centre and Advanced Neurosciences Centre at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, and lauded the efforts of SARATHI volunteers for their contribution towards patient-centric healthcare.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Nadda visited the facilities after they were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day and assessed the advanced healthcare infrastructure aimed at strengthening tertiary medical services.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Health said, "Following the inauguration of the Advanced Mother & Child Centre (AMCC) and Advanced Neurosciences Centre (ANC) at PGIMER, Chandigarh by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda visited the newly inaugurated facilities to review their advanced healthcare infrastructure."
Nadda was accompanied by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, PGIMER Director Prof Vivek Lal and senior faculty members during the visit.
The Minister reviewed the state-of-the-art facilities at the Advanced Mother and Child Centre, which is expected to strengthen comprehensive maternal, neonatal, paediatric and reproductive healthcare services. He also inspected the Advanced Neurosciences Centre, which is aimed at enhancing advanced patient care, medical education and neuroscience research.
During the visit, Nadda interacted with volunteers of SARATHI (Students' Alliance for Responsible Action to Transform Healthcare Institutes) and appreciated their efforts in assisting patients and their attendants.
"The Union Health Minister also interacted with SARATHI volunteers and appreciated their dedicated service in supporting patients and attendants, describing the initiative as an excellent example of youth participation in strengthening patient-centric healthcare," the Ministry of Health said.
The Ministry added that Nadda commended the leadership, faculty, engineers and staff of PGIMER for developing the modern healthcare facilities and reaffirmed the Government of India's commitment to expanding access to quality tertiary healthcare across the country.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple healthcare projects at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Addressing the inaugural event, Nadda had said the transformation of India's healthcare sector under Prime Minister Modi had been "unprecedented" and highlighted the National Health Policy 2017 as a landmark shift towards a comprehensive, preventive and inclusive healthcare model. He said the policy focuses not only on treatment but also on disease prevention, health promotion, rehabilitation, palliative care and geriatric services to better serve the country's population.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Happy about the new infrastructure but honestly, PGIMER still has long waiting times for OPDs. A new building won't fix years of systemic issues. SARATHI is a nice initiative but we need more permanent staff and less dependence on volunteers. Just saying what many patients feel. 🤷♀️
As someone from Chandigarh, I've seen PGIMER transform over the years. The neurosciences centre is a big deal - earlier patients had to go to Delhi or Mumbai for advanced brain surgery. Now they can get treatment here. Government's focus on tertiary care is paying off. Modiji's vision for healthcare is finally showing results on ground.
SARATHI volunteers are amazing! My mother was admitted there last year and they helped us navigate the entire process - from getting tokens to finding the right ward. Young students giving their time selflessly deserves all the appreciation. Wish this model is replicated in AIIMS too. 🙏
Good to see healthcare infrastructure improving in India. Coming from the UK, I'm impressed by the scale of these facilities. The focus on both mother-child care and neuroscience shows a holistic approach. But I hope the government also invests in primary healthcare in rural areas - that's where the real need is.
While I appreciate the new centres, let's not forget the delays in construction. These projects were announced years ago. Also, PGIMER still struggles with basic issues like cleanliness in some wards and shortage of beds. Brand new buildings are good but maintenance and staffing are equally important. Hope Nadda ji also looks into these ground realities.