Robotic Surgery to Begin at Nerchowk Medical College This Year, Announces CM Sukhu.
Sanctions Over Rs. 40 Crore for Advanced Medical Infrastructure.
Shimla:
In a major boost to the healthcare infrastructure of Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today announced that robotic surgery will commence later this year at Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Nerchowk, district Mandi. The announcement was made during the IRIS-2025 programme, which the Chief Minister presided over.
To facilitate this technological leap, the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs. 28 crore for the installation of an advanced MRI machine, expected to be operational within two months. He also approved Rs. 12 crore for setting up a state-of-the-art Cath Lab at the medical college, of which Rs. 9 crore has already been released.
“Robotic surgery has already been successfully implemented at Chamiyana and RPGMC Tanda, where 45 surgeries have been performed. Himachali doctors are extremely capable, and the government is committed to equipping them with the latest technology to improve patient care,” said CM Sukhu.
AIIMS-Model Labs and Focus on Modernisation
The Chief Minister unveiled ambitious plans to modernise all government medical colleges in the state by establishing AIIMS-modeled smart diagnostic laboratories, capable of conducting 100 tests from a single blood sample. For this, the state government has sanctioned Rs. 75 crore.
He also emphasised the government’s resolve to address manpower shortages in the health sector. “We’ve increased the number of seats in medical colleges and sanctioned 38 new posts in the emergency medicine department,” he said.
A Strong Critique of Previous Administration
In a pointed critique of the former BJP government, CM Sukhu said, “The previous government mismanaged state funds. If the money had been used wisely, we wouldn’t be struggling with outdated health infrastructure today.” He reiterated his government’s commitment to policy reforms and infrastructure development from the very first day in office.
Significant Improvements in Education Sector
Highlighting education reforms, CM Sukhu noted that Himachal Pradesh has climbed from the 21st to the 5th position nationally in education rankings, citing a 60% improvement in quality. He credited teachers for their efforts and reaffirmed the government’s plans to set up Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in every assembly constituency.
English-medium instruction has begun from Class I, and 100 government schools will now follow the CBSE curriculum, bringing them in line with national standards.
He criticised the BJP’s earlier decision to open schools without proper infrastructure, which forced the current government to close several of them.
Inauguration of Projects Worth Rs. 8.37 Crore
During his one-day tour, the Chief Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of five key healthcare projects worth Rs. 8.37 crore at the medical college. This includes:
- Foundation stone of a new Students Hostel to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 5.98 crore
- Inauguration of Rs
- 80 lakh State Midwifery Training Institute and Skill Lab
- Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (Rs.6 lakh)
- Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre (Rs.76 lakh)
- Endoscopy Unit (Rs.23 lakh)
Grant for Students and Inspirational Message
CM Sukhu also announced a Rs. 5 lakh grant for students to organize cultural activities. In an emotional segment of his speech, he reflected on his political journey, starting at age 26, and advised students to persevere through failures with dedication and hard work.
Warm Reception and Attendees
The Chief Minister received a warm welcome en route from Sundernagar to Nerchowk, with local residents and Congress workers greeting him at multiple locations. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, MLAs Chander Shekhar, Anil Sharma, Inder Singh Gandhi, former ministers Kaul Singh Thakur and Prakash Chaudhary, former CPS Sohan Singh Thakur, Congress leaders Jagdish Reddy, Vijay Pal Singh, Jeevan Thakur, Naresh Chauhan, Lal Singh Kaushal and, Champa Thakur were present on the occasion amongst others.
With this series of developments, SLBS Government Medical College, Nerchowk, is poised to become a premier institution for advanced medical care in Himachal Pradesh, symbolising the state government’s commitment to health and education reform.
