Chandigarh: PGIMER's Proposal for MBBS Course

The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is moving forward with its proposal for commencing an MBBS course next year. The institute is soon going to approach the Standing Finance Committee for approval of the budget from the Union Government.

Proposal for setting up the MBBS course with 100 MBBS seats will be placed before the Finance Committee in October. The meeting, chaired by the Secretary of Union Health Ministry, Rajesh Bhushan, is also expected to discuss the budget approval.

Established back in 1962, PGIMER is an 'Institute of National Importance' and it mainly provides PG medical degrees in almost all disciplines of medicine. However, it has MBBS students in 92 MBBS seats in the general category at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Sector 32.

It was recently reported that in a first, PGIMER was considering commencing admission in the MBBS course with an intake capacity of 100 students initially. As per the proposal, 100 MBBS seats will be added at the Sarangpur Centre of the Institute.

The decision is expected to bring respite to lakhs of applicants going in for the only 92 MBBS seats in the general category available in the city. With the latest approval, there will be another medical college in the city. It would also bring excitement among the MBBS aspirants as PGIMER, one of the top institutes for post-graduation education, is now foraying into MBBS.

Earlier, the Standing Academic Committee (SAC) of PGIMER had recommended including yoga science, ayurvedic science, and traditional medicine in the MBBS curriculum. Apart from yoga and Ayurvedic science, the Committee had also suggested including new branches such as aviation medicine and organ transplant in the new syllabus.

Also Read: PGIMER to foray into MBBS course, looks to add 100 seats

Accordingly, the institute included a Yoga course in the finalized MBBS academic syllabus and sent the same to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which shall give the final approval in this regard. Apart from the Yoga course, the finalized syllabus also includes a course on tobacco/drug abuse and research and innovation for students.

Apart from the MBBS course, the SAC had also given its in-principle nod for constituting a 500-bed Hospital, an extension of Nehru Hospital. This new hospital will have all clinical departments required for running the course and the departments will have enough beds to fulfill the requirements of the National Medical Commission (NMC). The hospital is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 1800 crore.

Besides, the new medical college and hospital will also have modular operation theatres, an administrative block, a library, accommodation for faculty, paramedical staff and students, and a learning resources centre equipped with a first-of-its-kind integrated skill lab for imparting soft skills and surgical skills in all specialties.

Acting on its plan of commencing the MBBS course from next year, PGIMER is soon going to present its proposal before the Standing Finance Committee (SAC) for budget approval. Speaking about this, the Deputy Director of the Institute, Kumar Gaurav Dhawan told Hindustan Times, "The agenda for setting up the MBBS course will be placed before the standing finance committee, which is scheduled in October. The budget approval will also be a part of the meeting, as Rajesh Bhushan, secretary, Union ministry of health and family welfare, will chair it."

While commenting on this, the Director of PGIMER Dr Vivek Lal added, "Our proposal is ready to be tabled in the SFC meeting and soon after getting the proposal, we will start working on it. The MBBS course and 500-bed hospital will help in managing patient load with the help of more trained doctors and healthcare staff."

Also Read: PGIMER MBBS curriculum sent to Health Ministry for nod, to include modules on Yoga, drug abuse