Chandigarh: A landmark proposal to transform the Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, into a deemed university has been mooted to bypass chronic administrative bottlenecks and fast-track faculty recruitment.The move, championed by Dr. Raj Bahadur, chairman of the Standing Committee on Health, aims to liberate the city’s premier medical institution from the centralized hiring processes of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Ministry of Health.Breaking the recruitment logjamCurrently, GMCH operates as the sole medical college in Chandigarh under the direct administrative framework of the Union Territory.
This structure has resulted in a massive backlog of faculty vacancies, as the creation and filling of posts must navigate lengthy federal approvals.By achieving deemed university status, the institution would gain the autonomy to establish an independent selection board. “Decisions regarding infrastructure and personnel would be made locally, ensuring a more responsive healthcare environment,” Dr. Bahadur said.Feasibility over autonomyWhile previous discussions suggested converting GMCH into an autonomous college, Dr. Bahadur emphasized that the deemed university model offers superior benefits. Unlike an autonomous college, which remains tethered to a parent university for degrees, a deemed university can design and award its own qualifications.This shift would allow the institution to scale departments or transform existing nursing and physiotherapy wings into full-fledged degree programmes, launch independent paramedical and super-specialty courses that are currently restricted by rigid affiliation norms, and create new staff positions based on immediate departmental needs rather than waiting for central agency cycles.Future OutlookThe proposal is currently under review by the UT administration. If greenlit, it would mark a shift toward a self-sustaining model, positioning Chandigarh as a regional hub for advanced medical research and niche healthcare certifications.
