Latest news with #PGIMER
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: PGI mulling video consultations for follow-up patients to ease OPD rush
To ease the overwhelming patient rush during OPD hours, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is planning to introduce tele-consultation services for follow-up patients. PGIMER sees a daily OPD footfall of 8,000-10,000 patients, of whom two-thirds visit the hospital for follow-up. (Ravi Kumar/HT) The telemedicine department has circulated a proposal to all departments, seeking their participation. During their OPD visit, if follow-up patients opt for online consultation, they will be given a specific date and time for a video call with the doctor. Each clinic or OPD will need to allocate a separate room for these tele-consultation sessions. If implemented, the initiative will save patients, especially those travelling from far-off places, time, money and effort, allowing them to consult doctors from the comfort of home. Currently, PGIMER sees a daily OPD footfall of 8,000-10,000 patients, of whom two-thirds are follow-ups and one-third are new patients registering for the first time. Managing this rush has been a long-standing challenge for the institute. One initiative in this direction is the Digi Seva system, already implemented in the department of hepatology. It allows follow-up patients to register online, bypassing long queues. Patients using online registration are also given priority, further cutting down wait times. The telemedicine department has been offering tele-consultation to doctors of Haryana, who require expert opinion on various cases, through a memorandum of understanding between the institute and the Haryana government. Since 2021, the department has provided 2.5 lakh consultation to various government hospitals doctors. However, direct doctor-to-patient tele-consultation is currently not offered at any government hospital in the region. If PGIMER manages to roll out this service, it will be the first government institution to do so, said a professor at the hospital, not wishing to be named. A meeting involving stakeholders from various departments was held last month, following which a formal proposal has been circulated. So far, internal medicine, nephrology, neurosurgery, endocrinology, obstetrics and gynaecology, and gastroenterology departments have shown interest. Adequate manpower a challenge While the project is in its initial stage and technical modalities need to be worked out, adequate manpower remains a major challenge in implementing the proposal. Each department will need at least one data entry operator to schedule appointments and an assistant for the doctor during video calls. Departments will either have to spare staff from their existing pool or fresh recruitments will have to be done. At present, the telemedicine department has 25 staffers, of which 23 are working under two health ministry-funded projects. PGIMER itself has provided only two contractual staffers for cleaning and sweeping. Other than tele-consultation, the department also creates educational content, including video lectures and training modules for MBBS students, under the health ministry's learning management system. The department has no sanctioned faculty posts. It has long been demanding the creation of such posts to strengthen its tele-consultation, academic and research work. The proposal for faculty positions was tabled in the institute's 131st Standing Finance Committee meeting last month and sent for review. The head of the telemedicine department declined to comment, citing the proposal's early stage. The next meeting will be held once responses from all departments are in.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: In two years, glide on PGI-Sarangpur stretch as heritage panel okays flyover
City residents can finally hope to say goodbye to traffic bottlenecks on the stretch between Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and Sarangpur as the Chandigarh Heritage Committee has given its nod for a flyover on this route. First proposed in 2020, the flyover project had run into several hurdles. (HT photo for representation) This is the second flyover to be cleared for the city after the Tribune Flyover project, which recently received an in-principal nod from the Centre. Confirming the development, UT chief engineer CB Ojha said, 'The heritage panel has granted its approval for the PGIMER- Sarangpur flyover. We are now waiting for the official minutes of the meeting. Once we get it, we will float the tenders for the project.' As per officials, the tendering and project allotment process will take about two months while the flyover construction may take about 18 months. 'If things move as per plans, we can expect the flyover to be ready by March 2027,' said a senior official of the engineering department. Chandigarh: In two years, glide on PGI-Sarangpur stretch as heritage panel okays flyover First proposed in 2020, the flyover project had run into several hurdles. A geotechnical study was conducted and a feasibility report was submitted but the project was shelved in February 2023 following the announcement of a Metro corridor along the same route. The proposal was later revived after a fresh survey, conducted under the supervision of deputy commissioner and road safety committee chairperson Nishant Kumar Yadav, flagged the stretch as a major traffic bottleneck. To resolve the conflict between the flyover and the proposed Metro line, the UT engineering department in June suggested a double-decker structure—one level for Metro tracks and the other for vehicular traffic. The project was tabled for final approval before the Chandigarh Heritage Committee, the authority for clearing projects requiring architectural changes to the city. The found that the flyover does not interfere with the sectoral grid of heritage sectors (Sectors 1 to 30) and thus gave its go-ahead.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
PGI-Sarangpur flyover hits heritage hurdle
Chandigarh: Where the flyover project from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) to Sarangpur is concerned, it is back to the drawing board for the Chandigarh administration. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Appreciating the need for traffic decongestion measures, including a flyover, the sub-committee of the Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) insisted that the current UT engineering department plan be significantly modified to be acceptable. "As per existing plans submitted to the sub-committee, the 1.75km flyover with a 1.3km elevated stretch will begin near PGIMER and terminate near the Botanical Garden in Sarangpur, passing over Khudda Jassu and Khudda Lahora villages. The committee has asked the engineering department to keep the flyover out of the Chandigarh grid plan (out of Sector 12/14) and shift the flyover plan further toward the village area, away from PGIMER," said a senior UT official. The committee has also considered the route of the proposed metro, which is planned to pass through the area where the flyover is proposed. "The engineering department was asked to coordinate with the Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) for the flyover plans. There must be no overlapping of the two routes; the department must get a clearer picture about it from RITES," said the official. The committee also questioned the double-decker design of the flyover. "It asked the engineering department to re-examine the double-decker design, which may look horrendous for the city. The Metro can go underground here, but the double-decker design will have to go," said the official. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As per the existing double-decker plan, the Rs 90 crore proposed flyover, with a width of 19.1 m and carriageway width of 17.5 m, would feature a lower level for regular traffic and an upper level for the proposed Metro line. "The engineering department has been directed to revise the project as per these concerns, particularly to shift the project away from the city sectoral grid, in alignment with the proposed Metro project and designed structure of the flyover. The department will submit a revised design and structure of the project to the committee," said the official. For a smooth ride to New Chandigarh, bypassing congested villages, the administration started work on the proposal of an elevated highway connecting Madhya Marg to New Chandigarh in 2020. After more than two years, UT resumed work on the project in 2023. The stretch frequently witnesses traffic snarls. Many temporary and permanent commercial establishments and residential areas have come up on both sides of the road stretch. A UT engineering department official said, "We are waiting for minutes of the meeting, after which further course of action will be decided." The CHCC sub-committee gave in-principle nod to the Bapu Dham bridge over Sukhna Choe. The committee, however, asked for a detailed submission of the design of the bridge. The proposed bridge will be 1.4 km in length and is planned to be 4-laned. MSID:: 122980658 413 |
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Chandigarh: Heritage committee clears PGIMER-Sarangpur flyover proposal
The Chandigarh Heritage Conservation Committee (CHCC) has granted clearance for the proposed flyover on the stretch between the PGIMER and Sarangpur. The proposed four-lane structure will have a carriageway width of 17.5 metres and an overall width of 19.1 metres. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 90 crore. An official confirmed that the committee recently approved the plan during a meeting. The next phase of the project will begin after the formal minutes are received. The flyover aims to ease regular traffic snarls, especially during peak hours, on the busy route connecting the PGIMER with the Botanical Garden in Sarangpur. The UT Road Safety Committee had earlier flagged this stretch as a major congestion zone and recommended urgent intervention. It identified five major traffic choke points in Chandigarh, with the road leading to Khuda Lahora and Khuda Jassu being the most problematic. These areas face regular traffic jams due to a lack of footpaths, encroachments, school-related vehicle parking, poor drainage, and erratic stopping of auto-rickshaws. Unregulated U-turns further worsen the situation. To address these issues, the committee suggested multiple corrective measures. These include constructing a flyover from near Khuda Jassu bridge to the Botanical Garden, shifting the school boundary wall to create footpaths, removing illegal encroachments, and widening the road to 200 feet towards Mullanpur. The flyover project, initially conceived in 2020, had been put on hold due to the pandemic. Once complete, the flyover will provide signal-free movement for commuters travelling towards New Chandigarh and Baddi in Himachal Pradesh and will also benefit the upcoming institutional and residential developments in Sarangpur, including the planned PGIMER extension campus. Before construction begins, necessary environmental and design approvals will be obtained, an official said.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
World Hepatitis Day: Half of acute liver failure patients admitted in ICU had Hepatitis A, say PGI doctors
On the occasion of world hepatitis day, the department of hepatology of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) on Monday organised a viral hepatitis screening and information camp at the liver clinic in the OPD. Accompanying attendants of the patients were encouraged to participate in the screening and were provided information about viral hepatitis and its importance, the routes of spread and methods of prevention. Officials said that the activity will continue throughout the week. Hepatitis B and C are silent killers that surreptitiously damage the liver over many years, leading to serious conditions like cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), end-stage liver disease and even liver cancer. (Shutterstock) World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on July 28 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, a group of diseases that can severely damage our liver. This year's theme, 'Hepatitis: Let's break it down' is to understand the silent threat, remove barriers to care including misinformation, and work together towards a hepatitis-free future. Dr Madhumita Premkumar of hepatology department at PGIMER highlighted that according to an observation, the last few years saw an increase in numbers and severity of hepatitis A virus infection. 'Almost half of the acute liver failure patients, admitted in the Liver ICU in the last two years, have been due to Hepatitis A, a serious cause for concern,' she added. Dr Nipun Verma, of the department of hepatology, said, 'Hepatitis A has also been presenting typically with prolonged jaundice and itching which may require steroids and even plasma exchange (a form of blood filtration).' Ajay Duseja, head of hepatology department said that around 800-1000 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (HBV and HCV) are seen each year at the outpatient liver clinic at PGIMER. 'All of these patients are referred from various parts of the country,' he added. While highlighting how neighbouring states, particularly Punjab, is a high burden state for Hepatitis C possibly due to intravenous drug abuse, Dr Sunil Taneja of hepatology department, said, 'Punjab has been at the forefront of the fight against Hepatitis C and its approach of decentralising diagnosis and treatment using a hub and spoke ECHO model has been replicated not only nationally but has garnered much international attention.' Dr Duseja explained hepatitis refers to an inflammation of the liver. 'Liver is a vital organ, performing hundreds of essential functions, including filtering toxins, producing proteins, and aiding digestion. When the liver is damaged by hepatitis, these functions are compromised, affecting our overall health and well-being. Viral hepatitis is caused by viruses predominantly Hepatitis A, B, C, and E. Hepatitis A and E are spread through contaminated food and water (feco-oral route). Infection with these viruses causes acute onset jaundice which is usually self-limiting but can sometimes progress to acute liver failure which is potentially life threatening,' Dr Duseja said. Hepatitis B and C are silent killers that surreptitiously damage the liver over many years, leading to serious conditions like cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), end-stage liver disease and even liver cancer. Prevention: The first line of defence Hepatitis A and B vaccines are safe and highly effective Newborns should receive the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth to prevent transmission from mother to child Consult your doctor to see if you need to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A or B Safe practices Wash your hands thoroughly Ensure safe drinking water and food Practice safe injections Safe piercings and tattoos Practice safe sex Free treatment is available A significant step forward in our fight against viral hepatitis is the availability of free testing and treatment. The government of India, through the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), offers free services for diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis patients, informed Dr Naveen Bhagat.
