Himachal Pradesh to upgrade medical colleges and increase doctor availability

The Himachal Pradesh government is planning to upgrade two medical colleges to provide advanced healthcare services similar to PGI Chandigarh. The initiative aims to equip these institutions with modern medical equipment, advanced laboratories, and increased specialist availability to reduce the need for residents to travel to other states for serious illnesses and diagnostic tests.

For upper Himachal, the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla is the likely candidate. For lower Himachal, the government is considering either Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda or Hamirpur Medical College.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the state aims to increase doctor availability to 80-85 percent of the total requirement by next year, up from 35 percent four years ago. Additionally, postgraduate medical seats across the state’s six government medical colleges have increased from 277 to 597, providing more opportunities for specialized medical education within the state.