Woman among three in race for PGI director’s post

An Institute Body member told the Chandigarh Newsline that the members discussed all the names and the ACC, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will choose the final name from the three. “We don’t know when ACC will meet and take a final call about the selection,” he said.

Dr Ram, who heads the eye department, became professor in 2001. The seniormost among the three, he has five years of service left from the date of filing the application for the post of PGI Director. Dr Bhansali, who heads the department of endocrinology, became professor in 2005. Ranking 27th on the seniority list of professors, he had four years and 24 days left in service during the filing of application.

The third candidate is Meenu Singh from the department of paediatrics. The ICMR supported Advanced Centre for Evidence Based Child Health at PGI and telemedicine programme are currently monitored by her. Ranking 52nd on the seniority list, she became professor in 2008.

As many as 26 applicants had appeared before the selection committee, which conducted the interviews last month. Other committee members include Dr VM Katoch, former director general of ICMR, and Dr Shridhar Dwevedi from Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, New Delhi.

The PGI Institute Body is headed by Union Health Minister J P Nadda. When the tenure of Former PGI Director Yogesh Chawla ended last month, Subhash Verma was asked by the health ministry to officiate as PGI Director till the new director is appointed.