Chandigarh: The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) is preparing an infrastructure and faculty recruitment proposal for the Union health ministry to establish its first undergraduate medical college on the 50-acre Sarangpur campus. This satellite centre will have an annual intake of 100 MBBS students, aiming to alleviate the intense competition for medical seats in Chandigarh. However, transitioning from a purely postgraduate research institute to an undergraduate teaching facility requires setting up foundational basic science departments as mandated by the National Medical Commission guidelines.
Challenges in Establishing Undergraduate Curriculum
While PGI’s existing anatomy and biochemistry divisions can be adapted to the undergraduate curriculum, the institute currently lacks a physiology department. Overcoming this challenge involves hiring specialized academic faculty and procuring complex experimental laboratory equipment from scratch. “We must establish this framework before the new curriculum can officially commence,” a PGI official stated, noting that the health ministry requested the formal requirements.
Background and Approval
The central government initially approved PGI’s undergraduate expansion in June 2022 to augment the city’s limited medical seats. The proposal is now being drafted to meet the ministry’s specifications, with a focus on creating the necessary academic and infrastructural foundation.
