3 min readChandigarhMar 10, 2026 08:04 AM IST
With over two decades of experience at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32), Dr Ravneet Kaur has taken charge as the new Director-Principal of the institution. A senior faculty member from the Department of Blood Transfusion, Dr Kaur claims her immediate focus will be on strengthening trauma and emergency services, which are witnessing a sharp rise in patient numbers.
Having been associated with GMCH-32 for around 25 years, Dr Kaur says she has seen GMCH-32 evolve over the years and is familiar with its strengths and areas where there is scope for improvement. According to Dr Kaur, several colleagues and staff members have expressed confidence that her leadership will bring positive changes that will ultimately benefit patients.
“The increasing number of patients is not really in our ambit. But we can certainly work together to ensure better care and facilities with the available resources and staff support,” says Dr Kaur.
One of the first areas she plans to focus on is the trauma and emergency department, where patient numbers have been rising in recent months. “As we witnessed on Holi evening, when several emergency cases arrived at the same time. We all had to put our heads and hands together to manage the situation. I was in the hospital for many hours along with the team,” she said.
According to hospital officials, festive occasions and weekends often bring a spike in trauma cases, road accidents, and other medical emergencies. This places additional pressure on emergency services and requires coordinated efforts from doctors, nurses, and support staff.
Dr Kaur says that the experience highlighted the need to strengthen emergency preparedness and ensure that the hospital team can respond efficiently during peak hours. GMCH-32, one of the major government hospitals in the city, receives patients not only from Chandigarh but also from neighbouring areas of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. The steady inflow of patients often puts pressure on infrastructure and services. With 207 beds, the Emergency and Trauma Block at Government Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, was inaugurated in August last year, and it is the largest in the region. In just over two months, the new block is witnessing almost a three times increase in patients from across the region, overburdening the healthcare staff and the facilities here. With more than 100 per cent occupancy, with around 300 patients daily, the system is facing a lot of pressure, and as per experts, till health services are improved on the periphery, and the system of referrals is executed, government hospitals in Chandigarh will face this unprecedented rush and no matter how many beds are increased, there will always be a need for trolleys, especially in the emergency and trauma departments of the hospitals.
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Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India.
Professional Profile
Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions.
Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 – 2025)
Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture:
1. Public Health & PGIMER
“PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%” (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India’s busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx.
“Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India” (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare.
“Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies” (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area.
2. Education & Institutional Governance
“Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy” (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms.
“Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts” (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India’s global academic ranking.
3. Art, Culture & Heritage
“Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex” (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status.
“Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls” (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the “City Beautiful.”
Signature Style
Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for “inside-track” developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions.
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