CHANDIGARH: The Director of the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Research here, Prof. K.K.Talwar, is concerned that little progress has been made in convincing Chandigarh's neighbouring States to improve health facilities in their cities and towns so that people do not rush to the PGI for even the commonest of ailments.

In an interview, Prof. Talwar admitted that the "rush'' just keeps on increasing as the people feel that they do not get "treatment'' in their States. "This dilutes the referral character of the PGI,'' he said while stating that he was in constant touch with neighbouring State like Haryana, Punjab, Himachal and Uttaranchal and had even offered PGI's help in developing necessary infrastructure in the medical institutions. "What aggravates matters is that hospitals in these States, including the General Hospital here in Chandigarh, are unable to offer round-the-clock services due to shortage of resident doctors and nurses. We will pursue the interaction with the neighbouring States even more vigorously in 2007,'' he added.

Talking about his agenda for the future, Prof.. Talwar said the emphasis was on strengthening of infrastructure, fully computerising the Institute and completion of pending projects. While stating that approximately Rs. 83 croress was sanctioned by the Union Government for additional facilities comprising new state-of-the-art technology, augmentation/replacement of imaging equipments and addition of specialised units to various departments, he said that Gamma Knife, PET Scan, Gamma Camera, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); Bi Plane DSA, Digital Radiography System (Emergency Section), Burns Unit, Gastroenterology Intensive Care Unit and Haepatology Intensive Care Unit would be added this year and the Renal Transplant Surgery Department would be upgraded. Also, work on a Trauma Centre would begin so that it is ready by the middle of 2008 and the Advanced Cardiac Centre would be completed.

He would also aggressively pursue establishment of a liver transplant facility. The School of Public Health and National Institute of Paramedical Sciences would be expanded as paramedical courses were the need of the hour. The PGI has sought funds in the Eleventh Five year Plan to modernise the existing Nehru Hospital and both the Research Blocks, he added. The emphasis in 2007 would be on pushing research, especially on cancer and Stem Cells, than routine patient care. At the same time efforts were on to involve the NGOs to strengthen the patient care facilities.

Also, telemedicine would be extended to all medical colleges in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Uttaranchal . The year gone by saw the inauguration of Advanced Eye Centre, Drug Deaddiction Treatment Centre and National Institute of Paramedical Sciences.

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