PGIMER Chandigarh Develops App for Digital Patient ID & Registration

At the hospital, patients can display the token to get their OPD card printed with their demographic details already captured, ensuring a faster, more efficient process.

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) Chandigarh is developing a new QR code-based app in partnership with CDAC Noida to streamline patient identification and digital registrations.

At the hospital, patients can display the token to get their OPD card printed with their demographic details already captured, ensuring a faster, more efficient process.

“With this app, the patients can scan and pay the fee and register online. Those who are outstation can go to their e-sampark centers, and get registered with a specific token number,” said Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director of Administration, PGI.

The pilot rollout is planned at the Advanced Paediatric Centre within the next three to four months.

This initiative is part of PGI’s wider digital strategy, which includes the upgrade of its Hospital Information System (HIS) to version 2, a move that has already digitised processes like indenting and medicine procurement under Ayushman Bharat, improving efficiency and transparency.

“A map of the PGI will be integrated into this app, which can be used for navigation by the student volunteers of the project Sarathi,” Rai added.

Addressing operational needs, PGI Director Prof Vivek Lal also confirmed the approval to recruit 300 ex-servicemen for campus security, expected within four to five months, and the addition of 82 new faculty members under DoPT norms, including EWS reservation.

Operational capacity has also improved in surgical services. “The implementation of 12-hour operating theatre (OT) schedules led to a remarkable 30-40% increase in the number of surgeries performed, effectively improving patient throughput. To support this increased surgical capacity, 32 new OT technicians are slated to join the institute within the next four months,” Prof Lal said.

Earlier, the institution launched Digi Seva PGI, an initiative to streamline hospital registration and introduce priority-based doctor consultations. The system sought to reduce waiting times and improve healthcare access by ensuring that patients with urgent needs or prior appointments receive timely attention.

Reportedly, over 10,000 OPD registrations take place daily, with many patients from other states arriving hours before the counters open at 8 AM. The high patient volume puts pressure on infrastructure, medical staff, and overall patient care. Digi Seva is expected to help address these challenges.

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