Aims and Objectives

The Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VCPCI) is a unique postgraduate medical institution devoted to the study of chest diseases. It is a University of Delhi maintained institution and is funded entirely by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The Institute is ideally located in the heart of the main campus of the University of Delhi, providing the requisite academic environment. The institute fulfills the national need for providing relief to large number of patients in the community suffering from chest diseases. It has eminently discharged its role and has earned a unique place in the field of Chest Medicine.
The main objectives of VPCI have been to conduct research on basic and clinical aspects of chest medicine, to train post graduates in Pulmonary Medicine and allied subjects, to develop new diagnostic technology and disseminate scientific knowledge related to Chest Medicine to other institutions in the country and to provide specialized clinical and investigative services to patients.

Vision

The motto of VPCI is care, Compassion, Research, Education and dissemination of knowledge.

Brief History

The need for a teaching and research Institute in chest diseases was spelt out in the Bhore Committee Report (Ministry of Health) by highlighting an acute paucity of trained personnel in the specialty of chest diseases in the country. The Directorate of Ministry of Health, Government of India, therefore, approached Sir Maurice Gwyer, the then Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi, to start a course in chest diseases at the earliest. In 1946, the Committee constituted by the Vice-Chancellor for this purpose recommended the establishment of a Chest Institute. A proposal to this effect was accordingly formulated by the Vice-Chancellor and submitted to the Government. Utilizing the teaching and training facilities of the Lady Harding Medical College, Irwin and Silver Jubilee Hospitals in Delhi, a diploma course in chest diseases was started in 1947 with Dr. R. Viswanathan, the then Deputy Director General, Health Services, Government of India, as the Honorary Director of the course. Sardar Vallbhbhai Patel, the then Deputy Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation stone of the Institute on 6th April 1949. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, the then Union Minister of Health, formally opened the Institute on 12th January 1953 and Dr. R. Viswanathan was appointed as the first Director, VPCI. The hospital wing, Viswanathan Chest Hospital [formerly known as Clinical Research Centre (CRC)], was started around 1956. It was inaugurated by the then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 24th October 1957.

Organisation and Management

The organisation and management of the Institute is through Departmentation of activities based on various areas of specialisation and functions. The academic, Scientific and Clinical services are organized under the Departments of Anaesthesiology, Cardiorespiratory Physiology, Radiodiagnosis and Imaging , Respiratory Emergency section are housed in Viswanathan Chest Hospital. The other Departments of the Institute include Biochemistry, Clinical Biochemistry, Biostatistics, Medical Mycology, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology and respective fields. The General and Personnel Management including various maintenance activities required for the Institute are supported by administrative services of the Institute which are available through following three sections controlled by the Deputy Registrar who reports to the Director. These sections are; 1. Administration – I, 2. Administration – II and 3. Finance and Accounts.

Services being provided by the VPCI

Facilities available at Viswanathan Chest Hospital (VCH)

The Viswanathan Chest Hospital (VCH), (formerly known as Clinical Research Centre), is the hospital wing of the Institute with the following Departments/Facilities:-

Specialized investigations available at VCH

Pulmonary function tests, Arterial blood gases, Bronchoalveolar lavage, CT scans, Ultrasound examinations, X-rays, Electrocardiogram, Echocardiogram, Polysomnograms (Sleep Laboratory), HIV testing, Serum IgE test, Allergy Skin tests, HBs Ag test, Flowcytometry, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Biochemistry (including autoanalysers), Clinical Pharmacology, etc.

Tobacco Cessation Clinic

A Tobacco Cessation Clinic has been running on every Monday and Wednesday from 2:30 – 4:30 P.M.

National Yoga Therapy Centre

The National Yoga Therapy Centre [in collaboration with the Moraji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi], runs on every Monday to Saturday from 8.00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Cardio-pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic

The Cardio-pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic has been started from September 18, 2007 at the Viswanathan Chest Hospital of our Institute. The Cardio-pulmonary Rehabilitation Clinic runs on every Tuesday and Friday from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Working hours of the VPCI

Office hours : 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

Emergency & Indoor patient care services are available round the clock at VCH.

Address of the VPCI

The Director, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Post Box No. 2101, Delhi – 110007

Phone. 27667102, 27667441, 27667667 Extn. 113; Fax. 27667420

Website : www.vpci.org.in

E-mail : vcpi@delnet.ren.nic.in