The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) Chandigarh has formally adopted a comprehensive Digital Doctrine that explicitly endorses and prioritizes Hospital-at-Home (H@H) models as a core pillar of future care delivery. This institutional policy shift marks one of the strongest public endorsements of H@H in India’s premier medical institutes, signaling accelerated transition of select inpatient services to patients’ homes using remote monitoring, teleconsultations, and AI-supported clinical decision-making.
Glimpse:
Announced January 10, 2026, PGI’s Digital Doctrine positions Hospital-at-Home as a strategic priority alongside traditional inpatient care. The framework includes guidelines for patient selection, remote monitoring protocols, integration with ABDM/ABHA, and use of AI for early deterioration alerts. Initial focus areas: post-surgical follow-up, chronic disease management (COPD, heart failure, diabetes), and geriatric care. The doctrine aims to reduce hospital-acquired infections, free up beds, and improve patient satisfaction while maintaining or enhancing clinical outcomes.
The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh one of India’s most respected medical institutions has officially published its Digital Doctrine, a forward-looking policy document that places Hospital-at-Home (H@H) at the heart of its future service delivery model. This is believed to be the first time a top-tier government medical institute in India has formally embedded H@H as a strategic priority in institutional policy.
The doctrine recognizes that conventional hospital-centric models are increasingly strained by bed shortages, hospital-acquired infections, rising costs, and patient preference for home-based recovery. It defines Hospital-at-Home as “the provision of hospital-level care in the patient’s residence using integrated digital tools, remote monitoring, teleconsultations, and multidisciplinary teams.”
Key components of the PGI Digital Doctrine (H@H section):
Patient Selection Criteria Stable patients requiring monitoring, IV therapies, wound care, physiotherapy, or post-acute rehabilitation (e.g., post-orthopaedic surgery, COPD exacerbation, heart failure, post-chemotherapy recovery).
Technology Stack Integration with ABDM/ABHA for record portability, continuous vital sign monitoring (wearables + gateways), AI-based deterioration prediction algorithms, daily video rounds, and 24/7 tele-ICU support.
Clinical Governance Dedicated H@H multidisciplinary teams (physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists), daily virtual ward rounds, escalation protocols, and clear discharge/re-admission criteria.
Pilot Roadmap Initial rollout in select departments (Geriatrics, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Orthopaedics) in 2026, with measurable KPIs: readmission rates, patient satisfaction, cost per episode, and bed-days saved.
Prof. Vivek Lal, Director, PGI Chandigarh, stated during the doctrine release: “The future of high-quality tertiary care cannot be confined within four walls. Hospital-at-Home, powered by digital tools and AI, allows us to safely extend our expertise into the patient’s home where healing is often faster and more dignified.”
The doctrine also addresses equity: special focus on patients from rural Himachal, Punjab, Haryana, and J&K who currently travel long distances for follow-up care.
This policy move is expected to influence other AIIMS and top medical colleges, accelerating the national conversation on scaling H@H under Ayushman Bharat and ABDM frameworks.
“The hospital of the future will have no walls. It will be where the patient is supported by secure digital infrastructure and intelligent clinical oversight.”
By
HB Team
