The Government Medical College, Chandigarh was started in the year 1991 in Prayaas building, Sector 38 as an attempt to establish a centre of undergraduate excellence to support the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research.

The foundation stone was laid by the erstwhile Prime Minister of India, Chandra Shekhar on 20 January 1991 on land allotted by the Chandigarh Administration.

The 36 acres (15 ha) campus is housed in Sector 32 and has 5 blocks of hospital and a dedicated building for the college.[when?]

GMCH was headed by Jagjit Singh Chopra, a Padma Bhushan awardee, who served as the founder director-principal.

The incumbent Director-Principal is Dr. A. K. Attri and he is assisted by Dr. Ravi Gupta, the Medical Superintendent.