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Chandigarh—The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh, is on track to open its highly anticipated Advanced Neuroscience Centre, one of the nation’s largest and most modern hubs for neurological and neurosurgical care. With an investment of nearly Rs 490 crore, the centre is expected to welcome patients to its Outpatient Department (OPD) by September 2025, marking a critical step forward for neuro-health in India.
The new facility addresses India’s severe shortfall in neurological specialists, where there is currently just one neurologist per million people. The Advanced Neurosciences Centre will consolidate neurology and neurosurgery—traditionally split across different hospital departments—under one roof, creating the country’s largest integrated unit of its kind. With 300 beds, including 30 private ward beds, 10 High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds, specialised ICUs, and state-of-the-art modular operating theatres, the centre is equipped to perform highly complex procedures such as cerebrovascular, skull base, and spinal neurosurgery. A dedicated “Brain Suite” will facilitate intricate neurosurgical interventions with cutting-edge technology.
Designed as a national referral facility, the centre aims to serve patients from across India, providing both accessibility and affordability. Facility highlights include:
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10 modular operating theatres and a specialised Brain Suite
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Dedicated 36-bed neurosurgery ICU
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Neuro-critical care and emergency neurology services, including a standalone 25-bed critical care unit and 24-hour emergency service
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Expansion plans for neuro-rehabilitation (20 beds) and advanced diagnostic capabilities
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Consolidated infrastructure to reduce treatment delays and resource wastage currently seen due to department and equipment scattering
Despite the promise, the centre’s launch has encountered delays. Construction suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently, issues such as pollution clearances and property tax arrears led to operational holdups. Most notably, the completed building has remained idle for months due to a lack of water supply until the Punjab and Haryana High Court intervened in June 2025, ordering municipal authorities to ensure a temporary water connection within three working days.
Some medical equipment procurement has also lagged due to budget limitations, leading to scaled-down acquisitions of key technologies like the 3T MRI and Bi-plane DSA. Despite these challenges, PGI officials maintain the centre will offer a major leap in neuro-health services, research, and academic training.
The opening of the Advanced Neurosciences Centre is poised to ease the overwhelming patient load at PGI’s existing emergency and trauma centres, offering comprehensive care, advanced surgery, and rehabilitation under one roof.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information available as of August 2025 from Medical Dialogues and corroborated news sources. All operational timelines, service details, and official statements are subject to institutional and regulatory decisions. For updates or service confirmation, please refer directly to PGIMER or its official communications.
