Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

The founders of the institute are Tulsi Das, Santokh Singh Anand, P N Chuttani, B N Aikat, Sant Ram Dhall and Bala Krishna.

PGIMER was conceived and planned in 1960 to provide a physical and intellectual milieu for young scientists working in multiple disciplines of medicine, to advance the frontiers of knowledge to render humane service to sick and suffering, and to train medical and paramedical manpower in Chandigarh. The institute was established in 1962 under the erstwhile state of Punjab. It was declared as an Institute of National Importance by an Act of Parliament (Sr. No. 51 of 1966) w.e.f. 1 April 1967.[5]

PGIMER is involved in research for the rural and community related environment and health problems. The focus of research has been on tackling diseases like diarrhea, tuberculosis, malaria, amoebiasis, systemic vasculitis, relapsing polychondritis, HIV, leprosy, hepatitis, anaemia, leukaemia, hypertension, atherosclerosis, thalassemia, dental caries, Oral cancer, stone disease, cancer, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Techniques are available to conduct studies like flow cytometry, chromatography (HPLC, FPLC), molecular biology, positron emission tomography (PET) and genetic studies. A BSL-III laboratory for mycobacteria is under construction. Recently, some highly advanced bio techniques like Ultracentrifugation , LC-MS ,Scanning electron microscopy and Whole genome sequencer have been installed in the CSIC , research block B.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 34th Convocation of PGIMER.

Admission to post doctoral and postgraduate courses conducted at PGIMER is made twice a year. The sessions commence from first January and first July. The admission to the courses is made on merit on all-India basis by holding an entrance examination by the institute, after issuing a countrywide admission notice. Each year more than 20,000 medical graduates across the country compete for the positions. Approximately 1% to 2% of the candidates are selected, making it one of the most competitive tests across all fields in India.

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research is ranked 2nd among medical colleges in India in 2020 by the National Institutional Ranking Framework medical ranking for 2020.[6]

PGIMER was established with manifold objectives. Since Chandigarh was being newly developed as a city and capital of the then unified state of Punjab, a tertiary care hospital was required and thus planned. The other two objectives attached to the project were providing training to the doctors and help them to get trained for becoming future specialists doctors in the region. Thus academics was a very strong focus right from the beginning. The third objective was to establish a very strong research facility in the region. Half a century later, all the goals have been well achieved. It has become one of the major teaching medical institutes of the country with a caveat - it does not provide undergraduate level of training i.e. MBBS and BDS. What it provides is all kind of post graduate degrees in various subjects. These include:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): PhD is available in many subjects and is notified in the prospectus each year.
• Doctor of Medicine (MD): MD is a clinical doctorate degree of 3 years and is available in almost all non-surgical streams of medicine. . Prerequisite for super-specialty post doctoral 'DM' degree is MD in that particular subject.
• Master of Surgery (MS): MS is also a clinical doctorate degree of 3 years, but in surgical fields. Prerequisite for super speciality post doctoral'MCh' degree is MS.
• Master of Dental Surgery (MDS): This is the equivalent of MD/MS and meant for Dental Studies. Few examples are Orthodontia, Pedodontia & Preventive Dentistry and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery.
• Hospital Administration (MD): Education in hospital administration is equivalent to MBA and trains students to become hospital administrators using the modern methods of business administration. for the administrative career.
• Masters in Public Health (MPH): This two-year course provides competency in Public Health Management, Teaching, Research and Leadership. After taking a core course and an elective course in the first year candidates take a special paper on Epidemiology or Health Management or Health Promotion in the second year. Graduates of Medicine (MBBS) / Dental (BDS) / Veterinary (BVSc) / Engineering (BE) or any Postgraduate degree (MA/M.Sc) who have passed with at least 50% marks are admitted through a national entrance test.[7]
• Medicine Doctorate (DM): DM is a Super-specialty higher master's degree of 3 years in a Medical specialty stream. Prerequisite for DM is another lower master's degree such as MD. One has to choose a particular branch from the field in which they did MD. For example: After pursuing MD in General Medicine, one can do DM in Nephrology, Cardiology, Endocrinology etc.
• Magister Chirurgiae (MCh): MCh is a Super-specialty highest master's degree of 3 years in Surgical streams. Prerequisite for MCh is another lower master's degree such as MS General Surgery. This is available in urology, plastic surgery, GI surgery, pediatric surgery and cardio-thoracic surgery
• Master of Science (MSc): MSc is a master's degree of 2 years with intense research focus. It is offered by Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Exp. Medicine & Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology etc.
• Bachelor of Science (BSc): BSc (paramedical) in PGIMER is an undergraduate degree of 4 years (previously 3 years) with intense research focus in academics and practical knowledge. It is offered by Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Department of Biochemistry, Department of Ophthalmology , Department of Radiotherapy etc.

Dr. Tulsi Das Library, PGIMER, was established in 1962. It has 45696 books, 57610 bound journals and current journals (print/online) include 414 international and 96 national journals. At present the library has 4851 theses of MD, MS, DM, M.Ch and Ph.D from different disciplines. The library subscribes to online databases like Science Direct, MD consult, Wiley- Blackwell and Oxford Journals and 494 online full text journals.

Initially announced in 2013, the PGIMER now has an operational satellite center at Sangrur in Punjab.[8][9][10] In August 2017, the INR 495 crore budget for setting up a similar second satellite center at Una, Himachal Pradesh was approved. Third satellite center was approved at Firozpur, Punjab.[11][12]

• Ashok Panagariya, Neurologist
• Sarbeswar Sahariah, nephrologist and organ transplant specialist
• Chittoor Mohammed Habeebullah, gastroenterologist
• Purshottam Lal Wahi, cardiologist
• Ram Baran Yadav, first president of Nepal
• Harpinder Singh Chawla, dental surgeon and Padma Shri awardee
• Keiki R. Mehta, ophthalmologist and Padma Shri awardee
• K. K. Talwar, cardiologist and Padma Bhushan recipient
• P. K. Sasidharan, doctor, author, social activist, educator
• Jagjit Singh Chopra, neurologist and Padma Bhushan recipient
• T. S. Chandrasekar, gastroenterologist, Padma Shri awardee[13][14]
• Rakesh Aggarwal, gastroenterologist, National Bioscience Award for Career Development recipient[15]
• Amod Gupta, ophthalmologist, Padma Shri awardee[16]
• Kirpal Singh Chugh, nephrologist, Padma Shri awardee[17]
• Jagat Ram, ophthalmologist and Padma Shri awardee[18]
• Prof Saumen Kumar Mitra, Pediatric Surgeon and BC Roy Silver Jubilee Awardee; Former President Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons
• Prof Sunanda Mitra (Plastic Surgery)

• Jagat Ram

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda is mentored by PGIMER[19]
• National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences
• Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research
• Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences

• Official website