Not many know that the Director of the PGIMER Chandigarh, Professor Jagat Ram hails from the hill district of Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh.
A world class eye-surgeon, his early life had been very tough as he had to negotiate on foot a distance of about 10 km to reach his school. But his passion for studies did not deter him.
He firmly believed that there was always a room at the top, but the way was slippery. People of Himachal Pradesh were proud of him and he is counted among the jewels of Himachal Pradesh.
He joined this year as Director PGIMER, Chandigarh on March 2017. He works like a team with the entire staff and is dear to all of them. He is a devoted and noted ophthalmologist. He works with a missionary zeal and inspires his entire staff to follow him.
Prof Jagat gives priority to the poor and lesser fortunate patients who cannot afford private doctors. He says his biggest challenge at present was to manage the huge rush of patients in the tertiary care institute.
He has taken some steps such as taking online appointments and extensive use of digital methods in the institute. Another problem is that the number of cases referred to the PGIMER has increased abnormally. “We have embarked upon a plan to train the staff of the adjoining states through our senior and expert doctors to ease the pressure of referral cases," says the Director.
Moreover, Chandigarh has now become a world class hub of the medical services and hundreds of patients of the neighboring countries are coming to Chandigarh. According to a survey, besides PGI, other private hospitals in Chandigarh are flooded with patients from Pakistan, Afghanistan etc. Two prominent doctors Dr Mahant and Dr Romesh Sen working in the Fortis Hospital Chandigarh have become world famous in heart by-pass surgery and knee replacement. They are also from Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.
JPNadda, Union Health Minister, says a network of medical colleges and health institutes had been laid in Himachal Pradesh and the day is not far when patients from all over the world will come to Himachal Pradesh due to the ideal climate and cool temperature.
It has also been envisaged to elevate the PGI Chandigarh set in the backdrop of panoramic Shivalik hills into one of the best health institutes in the country, he added.