Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while presiding over the ‘Doctor’s Award-2025′ organized by Hindi daily newspaper in Peterhoff on Sunday said that the newspapers were doing commendable work in helping the people perform and achieve better in their life. The Newspapers were providing platforms for the women and youth by organizing various motivational programmes for them and Doctor’s Award-2025 was one such platform.
On the occasion Chief Minister felicitated Head of the Department Nephrology AIIMS Bilaspur Prof (Dr.) Sanjay Vikrant, Principal-cum-Professor and Head Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities Prof (Dr.) Brij Sharma, Shimla, Vice Chancellor National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur Prof. Sanjeev Sharma, Professor & Head Neurology AIMSS Chamiyana Dr. Sudhir Sharma, Rheumatologist Department of Medicine, IGMC Shimla Dr. Vikas Sharma, Associate professor Urology AIMSS Chamiyana Dr. Kailash Barwal, HOD Orthopedics Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College Chamba Dr. Manik Sehgal, Neurosurgeon (Brain and spine specialist) Dr. RPGMC Tanda Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Assistant professor Renal Transplant surgery Dr. RPGMC Tanda Dr. Amit Sharma, Medical Officer Specialist (Orthopedics) Zonal Hospital Mandi Dr. Virender Negi, Medical Officer Specialist (OBG) Zonal Hospital Mandi Dr. Varun Kapoor, Medical Officer Specialist (General Surgery) Zonal Hospital Mandi Dr. Deepak Thakur, Medical Officer Specialist (General Surgery) Regional Hospital, Reckong Peo Kinnaur Dr. Bhartendu Nagesh, Retina and Uveitis expert Abhinam Eye Care Centre Solan Dr. Abhiraj Kumar for their selfless and extraordinary health services and Mr. Pankaj Rai, IAS Deputy Director (Administration) PGIMER Chandigarh for his visionary leadership in advancing patient-centric healthcare in PGIEMR Chandigarh.
The awards were also given to Tenzin Hospital Shimla, Negi Clinic & Nursing Home Theog, Shimla, Janta Hospital & Piles Centre, Dr. Daksh Khurana Liver & Digestive Care and Karan Singh Vaidh Ancient Ayurvedas for providing excellent health care services.
Congratulating the awardees, the Chief Minister said the State Government, guided by ‘Vyavastha Parivartan’, has given special thrust to the health sector, achieving visible transformation through decisive governance and progressive reforms over the last three years. He said restoration of the Old Pension Scheme led to the Centre restricting the State’s borrowing limit by Rs. 1,600 crore, while the Revenue Deficit Grant declined from Rs. 10,949 crore in 2021-22 to Rs. 3,257 crore in 2025-26.
Highlighting health sector achievements, he said robotic surgery was introduced for the first time at AIMSS Chamiyana and Tanda Medical College, with 120 successful robotic surgeries already performed at Chamiyana. Robotic facilities will be extended to all medical colleges by early 2026. The State is investing Rs. 3,000 crore to upgrade healthcare infrastructure, fill vacant health posts in phases, and ensure advanced treatment within the State.
He said an Advanced Pediatric Centre is being set up at AIMSS Chamiyana, while Rs. 75 crore has been approved for AI-equipped smart labs at IGMC and Tanda to reduce diagnostic wait times. Special OPD slots for senior citizens above 70 years are being introduced. Recruitment of 236 doctors is underway, 150 additional posts have been sanctioned, resident doctors’ duty hours reduced from 36 to 12 hours, and stipends enhanced—senior residents from Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 and super-specialty residents from Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 1,30,000 per month.
He said that the consistent efforts of the present government have significantly improved Himachal Pradesh’s education sector, with the State jumping from 21st to 5th rank in the NAS survey, introducing the CBSE curriculum in 100 government schools, starting work on Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools, supporting 6,000 orphans as “Children of the State,” and establishing a Centre of Excellence for Divyaangjans, while also highlighting tourism as a key growth engine under the vision of Vyavastha Parivartan, with Kangra being developed as the tourism capital of the State.
Earlier, Principal Editor of Divya Himachal Anil Soni welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries. He presented the journey and contributions of the newspaper in the social sector. Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Chairman HPTDC RS Bali, Mayor of MC Shimla Surender Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, Director Information and Public Relations Rajiv Kumar, Regional Editor Divya Himachal Sanjay Awasthi along with other dignitaries were also present.
