Stop the Outflow: CM Sukhu Overhauls Himachal Healthcare to Save ₹1,000 Crore
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu aims to save Rs 1,000 crore by upgrading medical colleges and increasing PG seats to reduce out-of-state treatment.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a sweeping strategy to transform the state's healthcare landscape. The primary goal is to upgrade medical colleges and diagnostic facilities so that residents no longer have to travel outside the state for critical medical treatment—a trend that currently costs the people of Himachal approximately Rs 1,000 crore.
Speaking after the inauguration of two extension buildings of the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat in Shimla, the Chief Minister revealed that the government is focused on turning at least two to three existing medical colleges into advanced healthcare institutions capable of providing world-class treatment.
Tackling the Staffing Crisis
One of the most alarming revelations made by CM Sukhu was the state of medical staffing when his government first took office. He disclosed that medical colleges were operating with a staggering shortage of personnel, functioning with only about 35 per cent of the required doctors and paramedical staff.
"Where 100 doctors should have been working, only around 35 were available," Sukhu noted.
To combat this, the government has conducted a comprehensive review of infrastructure and staffing needs. The Chief Minister stated that staffing levels have already climbed from 35 per cent to nearly 70 per cent, with a target to reach 80–85 per cent within the coming year.
Massive Boost to Specialist Education
To ensure a steady pipeline of specialists, the state has aggressively expanded postgraduate (PG) medical education. The number of PG seats in Himachal Pradesh has jumped from 257 to 597, with 320 additional seats approved across various colleges. This expansion is designed to allow MBBS graduates to pursue MD and MS courses locally, ensuring that specialist services are available in hospitals across the state.
The distribution of these new seats includes:
- Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla: Approximately 139 seats
- Nerchowk Medical College: 57 seats
- Hamirpur Medical College: 55 seats
- Nahan Medical College: 38 seats
- Chamba Medical College: 32 seats
Despite these gains, the Chief Minister acknowledged that the medical colleges in Nahan and Chamba still require further infrastructure development to reach their full potential.
Modernizing Diagnostics: Challenging the Big Leagues
The government is also replacing obsolete technology. At IGMC Shimla, machines that had been in service for nearly 19 years are being phased out. New, advanced diagnostic tools, including CT scanners, MRI machines, and X-ray equipment, have been installed at IGMC's Chamiyana facility, as well as at colleges in Nerchowk, Hamirpur, and Tanda.
In a bold claim, CM Sukhu asserted that some of the newly installed machinery is of higher quality than that available at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. He highlighted the efficiency gap, noting that while patients at AIIMS Delhi might wait up to two months for an MRI, Himachal Pradesh is working to eliminate such waiting periods entirely.
Strengthening the Support System
To ensure these machines are utilized effectively, the government has focused on the technical workforce. Around 10 radiographers have been provided to each medical college, and additional personnel for operation theatres have been recruited to streamline surgical and diagnostic workflows.