CHANDIGARH: Emphasizing India’s rapid strides in healthcare infrastructure, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda addressed the 39th convocation of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, on Thursday. During the prestigious ceremony, 682 medical professionals were conferred their degrees, and 95 medals were awarded for exceptional academic excellence.
Transforming India’s Medical Ecosystem Minister Nadda highlighted the massive transformation in the nation’s medical education sector over the last decade. He shared that the number of AIIMS institutions has grown to 23, while medical colleges have more than doubled from 387 to 818. With total medical seats now crossing the two-lakh mark, the government has made a definitive push to fortify India’s healthcare capacity.
He further noted the significant financial commitment behind this growth, revealing that the government invests approximately ₹30–35 lakh per medical student annually, with ongoing initiatives to further expand seats in government medical colleges.
Praise for PGIMER’s Legacy Describing PGIMER as one of North India’s largest and most vital public healthcare ecosystems, Nadda lauded its decades-long legacy of world-class patient care, pioneering research, and complex clinical procedures, including simultaneous pancreas-kidney, liver, and kidney transplants.
“PGI Chandigarh is not just an institute but a centre of excellence that has contributed immensely to advancing medical science and healthcare delivery in India,” Nadda remarked.
The Future of Healthcare: Tech Meets Compassion Discussing broader policy shifts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadda explained India’s transition to a holistic healthcare model that integrates preventive, promotive, curative, and palliative care. Looking toward the future, the Health Minister spoke on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, precision medicine, and gene therapy.
However, he left the graduating class—which included 61 PhD scholars and 114 DM candidates—with a vital piece of advice: “Technology will shape the future of healthcare, but the human touch must remain central.”
The convocation was graced by prominent dignitaries, including Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, and Dr. Vinod K. Paul, alongside senior officials and faculty members.
