Himachal Government Boosts Tertiary Healthcare with New Specialized Departments and Modern Tech Upgrades.
Medical Colleges in Hamirpur, Mandi, Nahan Among Key Beneficiaries of Statewide Health Push.
Shimla:
The Himachal Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has taken major steps to strengthen tertiary healthcare services across the state’s six medical colleges, with a focus on expanding specialized departments and upgrading medical infrastructure.
A landmark move in this initiative is the approval for establishing Nephrology, Neurology, and Gastroenterology departments at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur. This will significantly benefit patients from Hamirpur and surrounding districts such as Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, and Kangra, who previously had to travel long distances to facilities in Shimla, Tanda, or Chandigarh for specialized care.
To operationalize these departments, the government has also sanctioned 118 new posts across various medical and paramedical categories. This development comes in response to a recent survey conducted by the hospital authorities, which highlighted a growing number of patients suffering from kidney, neurological, and digestive system ailments.
Following the Chief Minister’s directive to expand healthcare access, the government also approved the establishment of a Nuclear Medicine department at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Medical College, Nerchowk in Mandi district. The department will be staffed with qualified personnel including a Professor, Associate and Assistant Professors, Senior Resident Doctors, Nuclear Medicine Technologists, and a Radiation Safety Officer.
In another key decision, the government sanctioned the appointment of an Assistant Professor in the Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion Department at Dr. Y.S. Parmar Government Medical College, Nahan (Sirmaur district), enhancing the capabilities of the Pathology department.
To ensure better diagnostic services across the state, Three Tesla MRI machines are being installed at Tanda, Hamirpur, and Nerchowk medical colleges. The outdated MRI machine at IGMC Shimla, in service for over 19 years, is also being replaced with a new, advanced model.
Furthermore, the government is working to modernize all medical colleges, along with Chamiyana Hospital in Shimla, and zonal and regional hospitals. As part of this modernization push, Rs. 200 crore has been earmarked for the adoption of cutting-edge medical technology and equipment.
In addition, 69 health facilities across Himachal Pradesh are being upgraded to enhance their treatment capabilities by introducing specialist beds and improved diagnostic tools, significantly reducing patient dependency on out-of-state healthcare institutions.
This ambitious health infrastructure overhaul is expected to transform healthcare delivery in Himachal Pradesh, ensuring that specialized and world-class treatment is accessible within the state itself.
