The Much Anticipated HART 2025 Inaugurated at PGIMER with Enthusiasm & Purpose

The 3rd National Conference on Hospital Administration, HART 2025, organized by Deptt. of Hospital Administration, commenced at PGIMER Chandigarh today, attracting over 500 delegates from more than 90 medical colleges across 20 states and presenting a dynamic platform for discussions on healthcare leadership, innovation, and administrative excellence over the next three days.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by Padma Shri and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Dr. Prakash Murlidhar Amte , as the Chief Guest . Accompanied by his prolific wife, Dr. Mandakini Amte, the couple is renowned for their transformative work through the Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa, Maharashtra.

In his keynote address, Dr. Prakash Amte shared his heartfelt account , motivating attendees to serve with compassion and integrity as he said, “Our life in the forest taught us that simplicity is strength. We lived with the people, learned their language, shared their hardships, and earned their trust. This wasn’t charity—it was mutual respect. And if our story inspires even one young person to serve with compassion, then our work has been worthwhile.”

Reflecting on his journey of 51 years which began with nothing, Dr Amte shared, “When we first arrived in Hemalkasa, there were no roads, no electricity, and no one to welcome us—just thick forests and a community that feared outsiders. But with a few medicines, deep conviction, and a sense of purpose, we started treating patients under trees. We didn’t build an empire—we simply responded to the suffering we saw, one life at a time.”

Dr. Amte underscored the need for an integrated approach to community health, as he said,“Healthcare was just the beginning. We realized that healing a community meant also educating its children and protecting its wildlife. That’s how the hospital, the school, and the animal orphanage came together—not as separate projects, but as parts of one integrated mission of service.”

Prof. A.K. Gupta, President of AIIMS Bathinda and Guest of Honour, reminisced about his 26 years in PGIMER as Medical Superintendent  and addressed the evolving role of hospital administrators. He noted the importance of agility and innovation in responding to modern challenges, stating, “Hospitals are not built with bricks alone, but with vision, courage, and a united, inspired team.”

Prof. Gupta emphasized the need to integrate technology into healthcare operations while maintaining a human-centered approach, advocating that effective hospital administration drives social transformation and quality care.

In his overview, Prof. Ashok Kumar, Additional Medical Superintendent, PGIMER and Co-Chairman of the Conference, stated, “Our work demands patience, quality maintenance, and adaptability.” He urged delegates to embrace innovation and patient safety during the sessions, reaffirming the conference’s theme: “Innovate. Integrate. Elevate.”

Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent, PGIMER  and Organizing Chairman, welcomed the delegates and reiterated that the future of healthcare relies on collaborative efforts. He expressed his hope that HART 2025 would inspire a movement towards improved healthcare systems through shared knowledge and dialogue.

The Master of Ceremony duo, Dr. Pankaj Arora, Addl. Professor, Deptt. of Hospital Administration and Dr. Saru Sethi, Senior Resident successfully engaged the audience throughout the event.

The inaugural ceremony was followed by the technical sessions and the  first session of the conference, “From Protocol to Practice: Elevating Patient Safety Culture,” was moderated by Dr. Shweta Talati, Addl. Professor, Deptt. of Hospital Administration featuring experts such as Prof. Manisha Biswal from Medical Microbiology, Prof. Nusrat Shafiq from Pharmacology, Dr. Avinash Sunthlia from the National Patient Safety Secretariat, and Prof. Jawahar S. Pillai from AIIMS Bhubaneswar, on focusing on fostering a robust patient safety culture across healthcare institutions.

The second session, “Blueprints for Better Health,” moderated by Dr. Navneet Dhaliwal, Addl. Professor, Deptt. of Hospital Administration included notable speakers like Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Medical Director at AIMS Faridabad; Dr. Desu Ramamohan, Head of Hospital Administration, AIIMS Mangalagiri ; Dr. Vivek Desai from HOSMAC; and architect Mr. Surinder Sawhney . This segment highlighted the significance of innovative hospital design in enhancing operational efficiency.

The day concluded with a session titled “Care Tech Solutions: Advanced Technology for Hospital Operations,” moderated by Dr. Shruti Sharma Asst. Professor, Deptt. of Hospital Administration.  Mr. Bhupinder Parmar from ASHRAE Chandigarh, Ms Shilpi Gupta, Director of Supply Chain at Johnson & Johnson MedTech India and Ms Malini Suri , Demand Planning Lead for Ethicon at Johnson & Johnson MedTech India, focused on emerging technological applications in healthcare facilities.

With participation from over 90 medical colleges and representatives from 20 states, HART 2025 will continue till April 26 with engaging scientific sessions, poster presentations, and expert panels, addressing key themes such as digital health, hospital infrastructure, patient safety, legal frameworks, and sustainable administration models.