Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria chaired a meeting to discuss the proposal to establish a regional medical center in Chandigarh to meet the growing demand for healthcare.

The new facility aims to decongest existing government hospitals and accommodate patients from neighboring states including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Suman Singh, Director Health Services, while presenting Chandigarh’s current healthcare challenges, highlighted the need for advanced infrastructure, universal healthcare and digital health solutions to improve diagnosis and treatment.

NITI Aayog member VK Paul highlighted the importance of aligning the project with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat-2047’, proposing a hospital that would be on par with AIIMS. He highlighted its potential to boost medical education and research.

Kataria suggested prioritizing peripheral populations and ensuring that satellite hospital facilities match the standards of district hospitals. Discussions focused on identifying suitable sites and promoting Chandigarh as a center of excellence in healthcare and training.

The meeting also reviewed the comprehensive school health program, providing mentoring programs, health lectures and basic first aid training in schools. Education Secretary Prerna Puri has recommended involving current serving and retired doctors in school health initiatives.