Chandigarh: Appointment of Prof Dr Vivek Lal as Director of PGIMER

The head of the Neurology department at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER, PGI Chandigarh) Prof Dr Vivek Lal has now taken charge as the Director of the institute.

The confirmation of his appointment was recently made by the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Government of India dated 05th May 2022.

"The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for the appointment of Prof Vivek Lal, Head Neurology, PGIMER, Chandigarh to the post of Director, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, in the scale of pay of Rs 80,000/fixed plus NPA (Maximum ceiling including NPA to restricted to Rs 85,000/(revised to Level17), for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge of the post, or until the incumbent attains the age of 65 years or until further orders, whichever is the earliest," the notice stated.

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Dr. Lal is working as HOD of PGIMER, Chandigarh in the neurology department. Dr Vivek Lal has done commendable research on Neuro-Ophthalmology disorders. He is known for the research he contributed on the inflammatory disorder of optic nerve.

Dr. Vivek Lal replaces Dr. Surjit Singh, head of the Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER who was given the officiating charge of director until PGI appointed a regular director to handle the responsibility. Dr. Singh was appointed on November 1, 2021, for a period of 6 months.

Dr. Singh was given the charge after Dr. Jagat Ram who is an ophthalmologist retired from the post. Dr. Ram was appointed in 2017 and served the institute for four years and seven months. With the retirement of Dr Jagat Ram, interview for the new director post was done in January 2022, and as many as 32 candidates came for the interview including 20 candidates who are currently PGI employees, few doctors from Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and few senior doctors from other national health institutes. The interview was conducted by the search-cum-selection committee.

After the interviews, the selection committee sent the recommendations to the institute body (IB) and then the recommendation with the panel was sent to the appointments committee of the Cabinet (ACC) through the Union ministry of health.

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