Health ministry asks PGI for data on patents for ranking

CHANDIGARH: For the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings, PGI has been asked to give its data of patents and publications.

The institute had been named the second best medical institute in the country, following AIIMS, New Delhi, in the previous rankings by NIRF, Union ministry of human resource development (MHRD). The rankings of medical institutes was initiated by the NIRF last year.

While in 2019, the PGIMER earned an overall score of 77.88 out of 100, last year, it was 78.73. The parameters that lowered the score this year included graduation outcomes and teaching learning and resources. Graduation outcomes mean the placement and salaries of the students who graduated from various programs offered by the institution.

The placement of postgraduate students in PGI, according to the data submitted to the NIRF, showed a drop from 82% last year to 39% this year. PGI director Prof Jagat Ram had, last year, accepted that their rank slipped due to less patents and that has to be improved.

According to the annual report of the PGI, in 2015, three patents were filed, while in 2016 and 2017, four patents were filed. However, in 2016 and 2017, only two patents were granted. "Our patents are less as we are into patient care and do not get the time for research, especially patent filing," said a faculty member.

However, publications and patents are a significant parameter for NIRF rankings. "The MHRD has asked the participating medical institutes for patent and publications especially to be considered for the ranking," said a PGI professor.