PGIMER sets up lounge for its Resident Doctors

CHANDIGARH: In a bid to give a stress-free environment to junior doctors who don't have a proper sitting space with cafeteria resulting in them facing health issues, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) established a new lounge for its junior doctors at the advanced trauma center.

In total, there are 1500 resident doctors in the institute who take care of both the emergency ward and OPD, they make the main workforce for the institute.

However, most of the resident doctors were skipping their meals due to lack of proper sitting space because of which, in almost every batch there is at least one resident doctor who is suffering from tuberculosis due to low immunity.

PGI association of resident doctors (ARD) president Dr Uttam Thakur informed, "There is at least one doctor in every batch who has been infected with tuberculosis due to low immunity. Most of them do not eat food."

Since last year, the proposal of a separate lounge for resident doctors had been issued by the PGI's association of resident doctors ARD.

Now, only the resident doctors will have access to the lounge which is situated at the advanced trauma center.

The lounge will be equipped with various facilities like a coffee/tea maker, a pantry, a refrigerator and a microwave oven. Also, doctors can order their meals online service providers at highly subsidized rates.

Resident doctors can enjoy the food at low prices in the lounge as PGI has tied up with an online food service provider which will provide food at very low prices.

Dr Uttam Thakur told TOI: "We have a tie-up with an online food service provider who will provide us with highly discounted meals. The lounge will have all the facilities that a faculty lounge is equipped with."

He added: "Once the online delivery starts, the doctors will be able to eat proper meals at any time."