Chandigarh: Convocation will be held in October every year at PGIMER

Chandigarh: A scuffle between the administration of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh (PGIMER) and the resident doctors over the postponed date of 35^th convocation day has now ended in the favour of the medicos after administration issued a letter of apology with a confirmation that the convocation day will be held every year in the month of October.

The Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the 35^th Convocation Day at PGIMER was about to be held on February 4^th 2019 which got postponed to February 9th 2019 in the Bhargava Auditorium at the medical institute's premises due to unavailability of the Health Minister on the 4th February.

The postponement of the convocation day had reportedly not gone well with the doctors who were going to come to the occasion to receive their degrees.

Read Also: PGI Chandigarh Convocation rescheduled; Doctors plan boycott

PGI Chandigarh having national importance is one of the most prominent medical institutions in the country at present. Around 1,500 students of MD, MS, MSc, BSc and other courses are awaiting degrees to be conferred since 2016. The last convocation was held in September 2015 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest.

Medicos were indeed excited as convocation was finaly being held after a gap of three years where the Union Health Minister JP Nadda was going to be the guest of honour. The convocation got rescheduled since the Minister was called by the honourable Prime Minister for an important meeting on February 4 leaving no space for the convocation.

Many of the doctors were coming from abroad just to attend the convocation. Therefore, the resident doctors at the institute had launched a signature campaign to boycott the convocation.

The resident doctors imposed conditions before the PGI administration to attend the convocation. In a meeting, the Association of Resident Doctors had laid four conditions. These included

1. a written apology for the inconvenience to each of the resident doctors on mail by the administration.


2. The doctors also demanded sending degrees by post, free of cost.


3. The third demand was that a month be fixed for the convocation


4. a fall back option for chief guest.

Recent media reports point out that the PGI administration has heeded to all its demands.

Read Also: PGI Chandigarh Convocation to be held on 4th February

Indian Express reports that the director of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Jagat Ram issued an apology letter to the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) for the inconvenience caused to the recipients of the degrees.

The letter said, "Doctors are the symbol of nobility, humanity and empathy. It is hoped that these basic qualities would be kept in mind for all times to come and it is expected that all of us together will keep the PGI flag flying high," quotes the Indian Express.