The dawn of 2026 marks a significant digital leap for healthcare in Chandigarh, with government hospitals rolling out a series of tech-driven initiatives designed to slash waiting times and enhance patient convenience. From online access to X-ray films to mobile app-based services, the focus is firmly on making healthcare more accessible and efficient for the region's residents.
PGIMER's Roadmap: New Blocks, Medical College, and Digital Overhaul
The year 2025 was a landmark period for PGIMER Chandigarh, celebrated for its clinical breakthroughs, academic excellence, and national service. Director Prof Vivek Lal highlighted the institute's commitment, noting its role during events like Operation Sindoor and its dedication to compassionate care.
Looking ahead, Prof Lal outlined an ambitious plan for 2026. Key infrastructure projects include a state-of-the-art Advanced Neurosciences Block, a comprehensive Maternal and Child Care Centre, and a dedicated 150-bed Critical Care Block. The latter is being developed under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, with preliminary site work already complete.
In a major step to nurture future talent, PGIMER proposes to establish an MBBS undergraduate medical college. To ease congestion and improve access, satellite centres are planned in Una and Ferozpur, while two modern trauma centres will come up at Sarangpur.
The digital transformation at PGIMER will be spearheaded by the upgrade to Hospital Information System (HIS) 2.0 in 2026. With daily OPD footfall exceeding 10,000 patients, the new system aims to eliminate long queues for registration, billing, and report collection. Features will include online appointments, a dedicated mobile app, and QR code-based scan-and-share registration.
Chandigarh's Health Department Drives Paperless Transition
The Chandigarh Health Department's digitisation project, already implemented across all 48 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, is now expanding to major hospitals. Dr Suman Singh, Director of Health Services, explained that the 'scan and share' system allows for quick payments and sends diagnostic reports directly to patients' phones and emails.
"This will drastically reduce footfall, waiting times, and decongest hospitals," Dr Singh stated. The initiative will be extended to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16 (GMSH-16) and all civil hospitals. A new, high-tech network system is being installed at GMSH-16 to support this paperless transition, with the LAN tender process already finalized.
Beyond patient convenience, digitisation will aid in health data analysis, disease profiling, and preventive strategy planning. The need for physical registration cards will also be phased out over time. Other priorities for 2026 include seeking approval for a 1000-bed Regional Medical Hub and expanding emergency and gynaecology services at GMSH-16.
GMCH-32 Advances with New Centre and E-Hospital Services
At Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 (GMCH-32), work is progressing rapidly on the new 251-bed Mother and Child Centre, targeting an opening in March 2026. Dr G P Thami emphasized that this integrated facility will help regulate patient load and ease congestion in the existing maternity ward.
The hospital is also set to introduce CT scan and MRI facilities under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, promising faster reports for patients and separate machines for medical student training. A major digital upgrade is underway as GMCH-32 prepares to launch a next-generation E-hospital system and migrate to a cloud server.
Prof Deepak Chawla, Head of the IT Centre at GMCH-32, said all clinical data will be digitised, with prescriptions given as printouts. While most OPDs already have online registration, the hospital will decentralise services starting with the medicine OPD, introducing a scan-and-share facility. The next step is to make X-ray films accessible online, and the hospital is implementing dynamic UPI payments for all tests, a system already active at most cash counters.
Collectively, these wide-ranging initiatives across Chandigarh's premier government hospitals signal a transformative year for healthcare in the region, prioritizing patient-centric, technology-enabled care.
