Himachal Govt to Extend NPA to Super-Speciality Doctors, Strengthen Healthcare Infrastructure: CM Sukhu.
Shimla:
In a significant move aimed at strengthening healthcare services in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state government will provide Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) to super-speciality doctors. The announcement was made while presiding over a review meeting of the Health Department on Thursday evening.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare services for people within the state and emphasized that there is no shortage of funds for the modernization of the health sector. He stated that several transformative initiatives undertaken during the last three and a half years have significantly improved healthcare infrastructure and service delivery across Himachal Pradesh, with encouraging results already becoming visible.
Addressing senior officials during the meeting, Sukhu said that the government has held multiple rounds of discussions with doctors regarding healthcare reforms and welfare measures. He added that in the coming months, he would personally visit various health institutions across the state and interact directly with medical professionals to formulate a comprehensive roadmap for further strengthening the healthcare system.
Highlighting the government’s focus on improving medical education and tertiary healthcare facilities, the Chief Minister said that all medical colleges in the state are being upgraded with adequate staffing and advanced medical equipment comparable to the standards of AIIMS, New Delhi. He informed that the state government is investing nearly Rs. 3,000 crore in the procurement of modern medical machinery and equipment to enhance diagnostic and treatment facilities.
Sukhu further said that in districts where medical colleges are not available, the government is upgrading facilities at zonal and regional hospitals to ensure that quality healthcare services are accessible to patients closer to their homes.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of addressing manpower shortages in the health sector. He said that the government is actively undertaking recruitment drives to fill vacant posts of doctors, paramedical staff and technicians in healthcare institutions across the state.
Referring to technological advancements in healthcare, Sukhu noted that the introduction of robotic surgery in Himachal Pradesh has emerged as a major achievement of the government. He said that earlier, patients had to travel outside the state and spend substantial amounts to avail such advanced treatment facilities. The availability of robotic surgery within the state is now providing significant relief to patients and their families.
During the review meeting, the Chief Minister directed the Health Department to categorize all Community Health Centres (CHCs) based on population coverage. He said that staffing patterns and infrastructure development should be aligned with the actual healthcare needs of the population served by each centre. This approach, he added, would help ensure better healthcare delivery and improve access to quality medical services in rural and remote areas.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the status of ongoing recruitment processes in the Health Department and instructed officials to expedite appointments to strengthen healthcare institutions.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Advocate General Anup Rattan, Special Secretary Dr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Jitendra Sanjta, National Health Mission Managing Director Pradeep Thakur, Himachal Pradesh Medical Services Corporation Managing Director Divyanshu Singal, and other senior officers attended the meeting.
