Chandigarh, February 24 – In a powerful example of justice being served outside of courtrooms, the costs and penalties imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on defaulting parties are bringing renewed hope to some of the most vulnerable patients at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).
Over the past two years, contributions to the Poor Patient Welfare Fund (PPWF) through court-directed deposits have increased by 179 per cent, rising from ₹89.50 lakh in 2023-24 to ₹2.49 crore in 2024-25, according to PGIMER.
This fiscal year has already recorded ₹2.06 crore in just 10 months, highlighting the sustained and transformative impact of judicial support. PGIMER Director Prof. Vivek Lal expressed his appreciation for the judiciary's humanitarian approach.
"We are sincerely grateful to the Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court for adopting a socially meaningful approach by directing costs imposed on defaulting parties towards life-saving support for the underprivileged. Each judicial order now translates into treatment, relief, and renewed hope for a family in distress," he said.
Prof. Lal further stated that the High Court's support extends beyond recent years.
During the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, judicial interventions and directives played a vital role in strengthening patient care systems and ensuring responsiveness during an unprecedented public health crisis.
Commending the initiative, the Director added, "The significant surge in contributions has enhanced PGIMER's capacity to respond swiftly to critical cases across specialties such as oncology, cardiology, neurosurgery, nephrology, and trauma care, areas where timely financial assistance often makes the difference between deterioration and recovery."
For many families arriving at PGIMER during moments of medical and financial distress, the Poor Patient Welfare Fund serves as a crucial lifeline.
It supports economically vulnerable patients who are not covered under government health schemes or insurance, enabling access to essential medicines, high-end diagnostics, surgical consumables, implants, and emergency interventions, ensuring that treatment is never withheld due to inability to pay.
The fund is administered through a structured and transparent mechanism to ensure that assistance reaches genuinely deserving beneficiaries promptly and responsibly.