State seeks Centre designation for PGIMS Rohtak to bolster rare‑disease care and research
The Haryana government has forwarded a proposal to the Union health authorities to designate PGIMS, Rohtak (Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences) as a Centre of Excellence for Rare Diseases, a move intended to strengthen specialised diagnosis, treatment and research facilities for patients with rare disorders, officials said.
Dr H.K. Aggarwal, Vice‑Chancellor of Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak (UHSR), set out the institute’s priorities after flagging off Independence Day celebrations on the university campus. He said the application to the Centre aims to enhance the institute’s capacity to provide advanced healthcare services and undertake focused research into rare conditions.
“Our goal is to develop PGIMS, Rohtak, as a centre of excellence in health education and patient care not only at the national level but also globally,”
As part of the upgrade, the institute plans to procure a 128‑slice PET/CT machine, with an estimated cost of ₹35 crore, to strengthen diagnostic capabilities in the Department of Nuclear Medicine. In addition, the university has set aside ₹5 crore specifically for research and development related to these initiatives, Dr Aggarwal said.
He also outlined a range of infrastructure projects that will be expedited to support the expanded clinical and academic role of PGIMS in Rohtak. These include construction and development works that are intended to expand emergency and critical care services, student accommodation and campus facilities.
- Procurement of a 128‑slice PET/CT machine (Department of Nuclear Medicine) — estimated ₹35 crore
- Research and development fund allocation — ₹5 crore
- New Emergency Block and Critical Care Hospital — construction to be expedited
- Faculty Guest House and Central Library upgrades
- New boys’ and girls’ hostels to be developed
Dr Aggarwal thanked Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Health Minister Arti Singh Rao for what he described as stronger financial support for the university and PGIMS. He reported the state government had approved a consolidated budget of ₹1,232 crore for 2026‑27 for the institute, an increase of ₹422 crore over the previous year.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| 128‑slice PET/CT | ₹35 crore |
| R&D allocation | ₹5 crore |
| Approved institute budget (2026‑27) | ₹1,232 crore (increase ₹422 crore) |
While emphasising the role of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotic surgery, telemedicine and genomics in modern medicine, Dr Aggarwal cautioned that technological advances do not replace the human elements of healthcare.
“The greatest quality of a doctor is sensitivity,”
University and hospital officials present at the programme included UHSR Registrar Dr Roop Singh, Dean (Academic Affairs) Dr M.G. Vashistha, PGIMS Director Dr S.K. Singhal, Medical Superintendent Dr Kundan Mittal, and several other senior faculty members, the university said.
Health specialists and patients in Rohtak could see several direct consequences if the proposed Centre of Excellence is approved by the Union government. Enhanced diagnostic capacity through high‑end imaging, dedicated R&D funding and an expanded emergency and critical care footprint are likely to improve access to complex care locally, reducing the need for patients to travel outside the region for specialised treatment. The institutional focus on genomics and telemedicine could also augment remote consultation and follow‑up services for chronically ill patients across Haryana.
Formal approval from the Centre and subsequent implementation steps — procurement timelines for equipment, staffing plans for new clinical services and detailed project schedules for construction works — were not provided at the programme. Dr Aggarwal outlined broad plans and funding allocations; specific project approvals and operational details will depend on the Centre’s response to the proposal and on subsequent administrative clearances, the university indicated.
As the proposal progresses, patients, clinicians and local health administrators will be watching for announcements on the timing of equipment installation, recruitment of specialised personnel and the operational roll‑out of rare‑disease services at PGIMS Rohtak.
