LUCKNOW, July 15 -- Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious Rs.5,000-crore expansion roadmap under its "PGI 2.0" vision, with plans to build a paperless, digitally integrated quaternary healthcare hub over the next five years and operationalise its first Advanced Paediatric Centre by October. The announcement was made during convocation, where director Prof RK Dhiman outlined long-term development strategy focused on digital healthcare, research, innovation and treatment facilities. A key feature of the PGI 2.0 roadmap is the creation of a paperless healthcare ecosystem, where prescriptions and medical records will be generated electronically. Among the flagship projects is the Advanced Paediatric Centre, whose first phase is nearing completion and is expected to become operational in October this year. It will house 12 super-speciality departments with 293 beds. The second phase, scheduled for completion in 2028, will add another 280 beds, taking the total capacity to 573 beds, making it one of the largest dedicated paediatric facilities in the region. The institute also plans to establish a 600-bed quaternary care complex comprising 11 specialised departments, advanced transplant facilities and digital healthcare systems. The institute is also expanding specialised cardiac care through the Saloni Heart Centre for congenital heart diseases. Principal secretary and director general, medical education and health, Neha Sharma said the first phase of the centre, with 30 beds and six ICU beds, is already functional and has completed more than 300 paediatric cardiac surgeries. The second phase is scheduled to begin in 2028. Sharma said SGPGIMS has recruited 213 faculty members and around 1,500 non-teaching staff, strengthening patient care, research and medical education. Union health and family welfare minister JP Nadda, who was scheduled to attend the 30th Convocation as the chief guest, did not attend the function. htc...