Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh giving prizes to meritorious students during annual function of IGMC Shimla on 31 May 2016.While presiding over the golden jubilee year annual prize distribution function of CSA 2015-16 of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here today, Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh said the medical education was very important to meet the health requirements of people especially keeping in view the growing population in times to come. He said there could be requirement for more medical colleges and hospitals in the State to cater to the basic health needs of the people. He said high standards, great commitment to serve the people and high conduct of discipline was very important adding that the doctors had a greater responsibility and they should serve their patients with dedication and commitment, no matter how hectic their day remains. He said that the Indira Gandhi Medical College had expanded manifold and the second campus was coming up at Chamyana on 245 bighas of land and assured that the case would be pursued for forest clearance with the forest department.
The Cheif Minister said that three medical colleges were coming up in the state at Hamirpur, Chamba and Nahan for which a provision of Rs 189 crore each had been made. Besides, the Union government had also agreed to hand over the ESIC hospital at Ner Chowk and AIIMS was also coming up in Bilaspur district. He said more health institutions would be needed in times to come with experienced doctors and para medical staff. He said that President of India had consented to be the Chief Guest on 3rd June, 2016 for convocation of IGMC.The Chief Minister also assured to look into the issue regarding the stipend to MBBS students. He distributed prizes to the students who excelled in academics and other curricular activities including sports of batch 2011-12 and 2013-15. He also participated in the Himachali folk dance- Nati.
He announced a sum of Rs 50,000 to promote sports and culture activities to the students from his discretionary grant. Patron, CSA, Dr. Sanjeev Sharma listed the development projects completed during the three years regime of the present government in the health sector. He said the Mother-Child hospital project in KNH was under construction and besides work on new OPD and super specialty block of IGMC was also underway. The second campus of IGMC at Chamyana and academic block opposite Auditorium could not be taken up because of forest clearance, which was the main hurdle. He urged for stipend to MBBS students under the same scheme as being done for other vocational courses.Principal IGMC, Dr. KP Chaudhary, Principal, Dental College, Dr. RP Luthra, Director Medical Education, Prof. SS Kaushal, Medical Superintendent IGMC Dr.Ramesh Chand, M.S, Kamla Nehru Hospital Dr. LS Chaudhary, Advisors, CSA Dr. Rajesh Kashyap and Dr. Piyush Kapila, Dr. Prem Machan, President CSA, Ankush Bhagata, General Secretary CSA, Sumesh Sharma were also present on the occasion amongst other dignitaries including the students of the college.