Chandigarh, February 13 The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here concluded a program aimed at raising health awareness and promoting outreach, which welcomed nearly 800 students from various districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Spread over four carefully planned sessions between February 7 and February 13, the visits allowed students to experience the hospital environment firsthand while ensuring that routine patient care continued smoothly.
More than just a tour of the institution, the program was designed to help young minds understand healthcare as a shared responsibility, according to a statement from PGIMER on Friday.
Students were introduced to SARATHI, PGIMER's flagship voluntary service initiative, and were made aware of the importance of organ donation, blood donation, and eye donation, learning how informed citizens can strengthen the healthcare system.
Addressing the students, PGIMER Director Prof. Vivek Lal spoke about the importance of prevention and awareness, saying, "Healthcare begins long before a patient enters a hospital. Awareness about balanced nutrition, physical activity, mental well-being, and healthy lifestyle choices at a young age plays a crucial role in preventing chronic diseases and reducing the future burden on the healthcare system."
"By exposing students to the realities of public healthcare, we are investing in a more informed and responsible generation," he said.
Elaborating on the SARATHI project, Lal explained how the initiative meaningfully engages young volunteers in patient facilitation and support services through clearly defined roles and guided supervision.
"SARATHI has demonstrated how young people, when guided with clarity, discipline, and responsibility, can become valuable partners in strengthening patient-centric care within public institutions while cultivating empathy and civic commitment at an early age," Lal highlighted.
PGIMER Deputy Director (Administration) Pankaj Rai, who spearheaded the initiative and coordinated closely with all concerned departments to ensure its smooth execution, emphasized that the visits were carefully structured to balance educational exposure with hospital discipline.
He said, "Organizing students in phased batches ensured meaningful engagement while maintaining patient convenience and uninterrupted services. Such initiatives help young learners understand the scale of public healthcare delivery and appreciate the importance of structured voluntary service in supporting complex hospital systems."
Further detailing, Rai said, "During the visits, students toured selected OPDs and patient facilitation areas, witnessing firsthand the scale and coordination required to manage thousands of patients each day. This experience helped them appreciate how doctors, nurses, administrators, and volunteers work together to ensure compassionate and efficient care."
For many students, the visit was transformative. A Class 12 student from Government School, Shimla, shared, "This visit changed how I look at hospitals. We understood how many people work together to help patients and how important it is to be aware of health and organ donation. It made us feel that even as students, we can contribute to society."
Her thoughts resonated with many others who described the experience as an eye-opener beyond textbooks and classrooms.
The initiative reaffirmed PGIMER's commitment to preventive health education, youth engagement, and community partnership, strengthening the belief that healthcare is not confined to hospital walls but begins with awareness, empathy, and responsible action.