Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured that the state government would extend full cooperation for the expansion and strengthening of AIIMS Bilaspur and make it a premier healthcare institution so that it can serve the people of Himachal Pradesh more effectively.
During his one-day visit to Bilaspur district, the Chief Minister visited AIIMS and held discussions with the faculties regarding healthcare services and other related issues. He said the state government was making every possible effort to strengthen its medical colleges to provide world-class healthcare facilities to the people in all medical colleges by December this year, ensuring that patients do not have to travel outside the State for getting the best medical treatment.
Sukhu said several reforms were being undertaken in the health sector to ensure better medical services to the people. To attract doctors and retain specialized medical professionals, the government was providing better salaries and perks to them. He said that norms for designating doctors as professors were also being relaxed.
The Chief Minister said diagnostic facilities were being strengthened across the state. Three-Tesla MRI machines had been installed at IGMC Shimla and AIMSS Chamiyana, while 1.5-Tesla MRI machines were being installed at Regional Hospitals in Bilaspur, Kullu, Una and Solan, District Hospital Kinnaur, Dr. Y.S. Parmar Government Medical College and Hospital, Nahan, Zonal Hospital Dharamshala and Civil Hospital Palampur.
He said that the state government has also set a target of increasing postgraduate medical seats by 330, which would help in improving the availability of specialized healthcare services in the state.
Sukhu further said that the state government had initiated work in the areas of gene therapy and phototherapy and was holding discussions with doctors in the United States for further collaboration and expertise.
Town and Country Planning Minister Rajesh Dharmani, former Minister Ram Lal Thakur, former MLA Tilak Raj, Executive Director AIIMS Lieutenant General Dr. Daljit Singh, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Kumar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
