After HC’s order, PGIMER puts up 50 signboards to create awareness about Poor Patient Welfare Fund | Chandigarh News
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had recently directed PGIMER to prominently display signboards about the Poor Patient Welfare Fund (PPWF) across the campus to ensure poor patients are informed about the fund. The court had also observed that due to a lack of awareness and the large number of patients, many are unable to access the fund.
In a bid to adhere with the high court’s orders, last week the institute put up more than 50 signboards detailing the PPWF. These have been put up in lifts, passages, outpatient departments (OPDs), entry, exit and reception areas of the institute and also waiting areas. All the information and contact numbers about the PPWF is on these boards in Hindi, English and Punjabi, and this is the first time that awareness about the fund is being created by the institute in this manner, though the fund has been in existence for the last two decades.
The PPWF aims to bridge the gap between medical treatments and financial constraints faced by the disadvantaged and the effort is to ensure that no one is denied healthcare services due to financial constraints. The fund assists in the form of medicines, tests, beds, and surgical items for patients who are admitted to the institute and who are holders of below-the-poverty line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana cards issued by various state governments. On the recommendation of the head of the department and assessment of treating doctors, help is also provided to poor patients from this fund, especially those in emergency or suffering from life-threatening diseases, provided the patient is not utilising any government medical insurance or Ayushman Bharat cards. Every year individuals, companies, NGOs, and trusts, donate generously to the fund, with a large number of donations now being received online.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court also directed those penalised by the court to deposit penalties in the fund. “Some also donate to the fund every month, and with the online system, many find it convenient to donate. We help about 30 patients daily and have about 70 to 80 queries about the fund from patients. Once the doctor refers the patient to the PPWF cell, we follow a procedure of checking the BPL status, make files, get the estimate of treatment etc,” a senior officer in the hospital’s administration said.
In 2023-2024, the PPWF had benefited 5,402 patients, with Rs 3.24 crore utilised out of a total donation of Rs 4.80 crore. From April to December 2024, 4,920 patients benefited, with Rs 3.50 crore utilised out of Rs 3.73 crore in donations.
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