CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu proposes Rs 3,139 crore for health sector in Himachal Pradesh budget

Shimla: To strengthen health infrastructure and to provide better healthcare facilities to the people of Himachal Pradesh, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in the budget estimates for 2023-24 proposed Rs 3,139 crore for the health sector.

He said that one health institution in each assembly constituency of state will be developed as "Adarsh Swasthaya Sansthan" where 134 types of laboratory test facilities, specialists along with medical staff and latest state of the art MRI, CT scan, ultrasound and digital x-ray facilities will be provided so that dependence of local residents on the district hospitals and medical colleges reduces.

CM Sukhu said that Type-I diabetes is prevalent among pregnant women and children and they have to get insulin injection every day and this makes them vulnerable to the risk of serious infections of kidneys and other organs. He announced that insulin pumps will be provided to these pregnant women and children free of cost.

He said that government aims to equip medical colleges of state with world class medical technology. He also announced that departments of urology, general surgery, gynaecology, cardiothoracic surgery and gastro surgery in medical colleges located in IGMC (Shimla), Chamiana (Shimla), Tanda in Kangra, Nahan, Chamba, Nerchowk and Hamirpur will be equipped with robotic surgery facilities in a phased manner on which around Rs 100 crore will be spent during 2023-24.

He said that in the coming financial year, construction work in government medical colleges located in Hamirpur, Nahan and Chamba will be completed and these colleges will be dedicated to the public. People will get quality health services through these medical colleges and about Rs 100 crore will be spent for completion of these colleges, he said.

He said that it has been often seen that more than one patient is found on a bed in casualty department of medical colleges, where patients are likely to catch other infections and as a solution to deal with this situation, casualty department of these medical colleges will be upgraded to emergency medicine department. He said that critical care blocks (CCBs) of 50 bed capacity will be constructed in these institutions at a cost of Rs 150 crore under this initiative.

He said that for providing 24X7 emergency services, availability of specialists, medical officers, staff nurses and other para medical staff will be ensured in these institutions. A mechanism for establishing coordination with nearby health institutions will be put in place to cope with situations arising from high numbers of patients, he said.

Sukhu also announced the establishment of a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for cancer care at Dr Radhakrishanan Government Medical College, Hamirpur. He also announced plans to start nuclear medicine department in this college and Rs 50 crore has been proposed to be spent for it during 2023-24.

He announced to install PET scan in all the medical colleges of the state and Rs 50 crore is proposed to be spent for this. He also announced the establishment of ‘Himachal Pradesh Medical Services Corporation’ for procurement of quality medicines, machinery and equipment with latest technology at competitive prices and to ensure their timely supply to health institutions located in the state.