Chandigarh, Sept. 16 -- The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) received national recognition for its flagship patient-assistance initiative, Project SARATHI, at the National Patient Safety Conference (NPSC) 2026. PGIMER director Vivek Lal said, "Sarathi represents the power of empathy, volunteerism, and responsible citizenship in making healthcare more accessible and humane." Launched in May 2024, Project Sarathi (Students' alliance for responsible action to transform healthcare institutes) trains student volunteers to assist patients and attendants unfamiliar with the hospital system. Volunteers help with OPD navigation, registration, service locations, queues, diagnostic reports, and other non-clinical needs. Since its launch, 2,688 student volunteers have collectively contributed more than 1 lakh service hours. To date, PGIMER has collaborated with 23 academic institutions, comprising 10 colleges, 11 schools and 2 professional institutes.htc...