As per the data procured by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), while 1,24,651 patients attended the OPD in the Department of Internal Medicine, 89,997 patients were attended by doctors at the gynaecology OPD, followed by 84,261 who were examined at the ENT department.This was followed by the Advanced Eye Centre, where 81,491 patients were examined, followed by
Advanced Paediatrics Centre which witnessed 79,323
patients.
Also, in 2012, maximum patients were from Punjab, and most of them went to the ophthalmology department, followed by the orthopaedics department. It was followed by the dermatology and ENT departments.
Out of 1,67,763 patients from Punjab, which included 89,650 males and 78,113 females, 32,606 patients went to the Department of Internal Medicine, followed by 17,492 patient, who visited the ophthalmology department, while another 12,136 patients visited the orthopaedics department. This was followed by 11,873 patients from Punjab who visited the skin OPD, followed by 11,442 patients who visited the ENT department of PGIMER.
Chandigarh comes a close second after Punjab in terms of maximum number of patients with 1,37,234, including 68,471 males and 68,763 females. Haryana is third with total patients visiting different departments totaling to 96,516, including 55,717 males and 40,799 females.
In 2011, 1,18,816 patients were from Punjab, followed by 83,006 patients from Haryana and 41,949 patients from Himachal Pradesh.
PGIMER authorities have repeatedly requested the state governments of Punjab and Haryana and other neighbouring states to strengthen their health care facilities, so that the patient load on the premier institute, PGIMER, could be shared and those requiring tertiary care could be given utmost priority.
Significantly, on January 24, the PGIMER granted approval to a 300-bed satellite centre in Sangrur and later another one in Ferozepur. People of neighbouring states have been demanding for long the availability of better health facilities closer to their homes.
As of now, the 300-bedded centre will be set up with an aid from Tata Memorial Centre. The capacity of the centre can be raised from 300 to 500 beds.
No. of patients
89,997
gynaecology OPD
84,261
ENT
81,491
Advanced Eye Centre
79,323
Advanced Paediatrics Centre