Chandigarh: “Ayushman Bharat is nothing short of a healthcare revolution in India. This scheme has prevented millions from falling into poverty due to medical expenses, and PGIMER is proud to be at the forefront of translating this vision into reality,” stated Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGIMER, while addressing media persons at PGIMER today to highlight the Institute’s pivotal role in delivering complex, high-end treatments under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
Addressing the media, Prof. Lal emphasised that PGIMER has emerged as a torchbearer in the effective implementation of government health schemes for the benefit of the most vulnerable sections of society. He observed that Ayushman Bharat is not merely a financial protection mechanism but a comprehensive systemic reform that is fundamentally reshaping healthcare delivery in India. PGIMER’s experience, he noted, clearly demonstrates that advanced, high-end and complex medical care can be delivered equitably, ethically and efficiently within the public health system.
Prof. Lal further noted that PGIMER records one of the highest volumes of Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries in the country. A substantial proportion of renal transplants, spine surgeries, joint replacements and other complex procedures at the Institute are now being performed under the scheme, with clinical outcomes comparable to those of leading global institutions. He stressed that the indigenous and Ayushman-approved implants used at PGIMER adhere to stringent international quality benchmarks, reinforcing the principle that affordability does not imply compromised standards of care.
“PGIMER is not a hospital for simple cases. We receive referrals from across India—patients who have often exhausted all available options elsewhere. Our responsibility is to deliver the best possible care, irrespective of a patient’s ability to pay,” Prof. Lal stated.
Senior faculty members present during the media interaction included Prof. Vipin Koushal, Medical Superintendent and Head, Department of Hospital Administration; Prof. Vijay Goni, Head, Department of Orthopaedics; Dr. Vishal Kumar, Professor, Department of Orthopaedics; and Dr. Navin Pandey, Additional Professor, Department of Hospital Administration, PGIMER.
Under AB-PMJAY, PGIMER, Chandigarh has treated a cumulative 1,75,676 beneficiaries since 2019, firmly establishing itself as one of the country’s leading public-sector tertiary care institutions implementing the scheme. Year-wise utilisation reflects sustained growth, with 9,201 beneficiaries treated in 2019–20, 10,442 in 2020–21, 17,019 in 2021–22, 33,142 in 2022–23, 32,223 in 2023-24, 39,227 in 2024–25, and 34,422 beneficiaries treated in 2025–26 (till date).
Specialty-wise distribution highlights PGIMER’s strong focus on advanced and resource-intensive care, with Medical Oncology accounting for 53,940 beneficiaries, followed by General Medicine (42,870), Cardiology (15,050), Neurosurgery (13,500), Orthopaedics (11,220) and Kidney Transplantation (211). These figures underscore PGIMER’s central role in delivering life-saving and complex procedures under a publicly funded health assurance framework.
State-wise analysis further reaffirms PGIMER’s status as a national referral centre. Punjab accounts for 46% of total beneficiaries, followed by Haryana (20%), Himachal Pradesh (9%), Uttar Pradesh (7%), Jammu & Kashmir (6%), Chandigarh (4%), while other states together contribute 8% of the Ayushman Bharat patient load. This wide geographic distribution reflects both accessibility and sustained public trust in PGIMER’s tertiary and quaternary care services.
The Director highlighted that some departments at PGIMER are now reporting 65–80% of their major procedures being conducted under Ayushman Bharat. He added that a recently completed institutional study—among the first globally to analyse real-world outcomes—has demonstrated that patients treated under the scheme at PGIMER achieve outcomes comparable to international standards, despite zero out-of-pocket expenditure.
Prof. Lal further stated that Ayushman Bharat 2.0 has significantly strengthened PGIMER’s service delivery ecosystem through end-to-end digitisation, biometric verification at admission and seamless bedside delivery of medicines. He highlighted that the introduction of a robust online indenting and inventory management system has been a critical reform in enhancing transparency and accountability. “This digital oversight has been crucial in protecting patient interests, optimising public resources and ensuring that the full benefit of Ayushman Bharat reaches the intended beneficiaries without compromise,” the Director stated.
Highlighting operational reforms, Prof. Lal pointed out that PGIMER operates regular operation theatres from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., in addition to 24×7 emergency OT services, leading to a significant reduction in surgical waiting periods. He noted that PGIMER is among the first institutions in the country to successfully implement extended OT timings using the same manpower through improved planning and sustained commitment, thereby enabling timely surgical care for thousands of patients under government health schemes.
The Director also detailed PGIMER’s extensive network with highest number of AMRIT Pharmacies, which ensure uninterrupted availability of quality medicines, implants and consumables at highly subsidised rates across the campus.
PGIMER has also aggressively addressed long-standing bottlenecks to further strengthen transparency and quality. Pending payments to pharmacy outlets—once amounting to tens of crores of rupees—have now been reduced to less than ₹2 crore, ensuring uninterrupted stocking, ethical practices and proper storage. Dedicated monitoring mechanisms and periodic reviews have further reinforced institutional accountability.
Emphasising the ethical foundation of the Institute, Prof. Lal remarked that PGIMER exemplifies how government-funded healthcare schemes can succeed when driven by institutional commitment and professional integrity. “We are soldiers in white coats. Our duty is not to question who the patient is, but to ensure that every needy patient receives the best possible care. At PGIMER, government schemes are not just policies on paper—they are lived realities for patients,” Director PGIMER aptly concluded.
