Chandigarh: The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh, is on track to inaugurate its long-awaited Advanced Neurosciences Centre, a state-of-the-art facility designed to address India’s acute shortage of neurologists and neurosurgeons. Estimated at a cost of Rs 490 crore, the centre marks one of the most significant public health investments in neurology and neurosurgery in recent years.
The Outpatient Department (OPD) is expected to become functional by September 2025, paving the way for specialised brain and spine care in a country where there is just one neurologist per million people.
Approved in 2017 and with construction beginning in 2020, the facility has faced multiple delays—from the COVID-19 lockdown and labour shortages to more recent setbacks involving pollution clearance and property tax issues. Despite these challenges, PGI officials confirm that the project is now heading toward a phased rollout.
Once fully operational, the PGI centre will rank alongside NIMHANS Bengaluru and AIIMS Delhi’s Cardiothoracic and Neurosciences Centre, but it will distinguish itself with an integrated model—combining both neurology and neurosurgery under one roof. “This will be the largest such centre in India where both specialities are housed in a single building,” a PGI official said. “Beds will be consolidated, not scattered, ensuring seamless and centralised care.”
The 300-bed facility will include:
- 36-bed Neurosurgery ICU
- 30 private ward beds
- 10 High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds
- 10 modular operating theatres
- A cutting-edge Brain Suite for complex neurosurgical procedures
It will offer advanced sub-specialities such as cerebrovascular surgery, skull base surgery, and spinal functional neurosurgery, aiming to tackle high-risk neurological disorders.
Though some high-end equipment proposals—such as a 3T MRI, Bi-plane DSA, and dual-energy CT scan—were scaled down due to budget constraints, faculty members believe the facility will still offer a significant leap in diagnostic and treatment capacity. “Patients come from across the country due to the expertise and affordability that PGI provides,” said a senior faculty member, according to TOI.
Notably, the centre had remained non-functional even after its completion in September 2024 due to a lack of water supply. However, following intervention by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Municipal Corporation has been directed to provide a temporary water connection within three working days.
Once launched, the Advanced Neurosciences Centre is expected to serve as a national hub for brain and spine care, offering critical, timely treatment for thousands of patients from underserved regions, and transforming the landscape of neurological healthcare in India.
