Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that State had shown creditable improvement in the health sector and was ranked one of the best States in terms of various health indicators the credit for which goes to medical and para-medical staff in various hospitals of the State. He was speaking on the occasion of Annual Day function of H.P government dental college and hospital, Shimla organized here today at the Gaiety Theatre.He said that with the passage of time and growing population, the diseases too have increased manifold and it had become incumbent on all of us to improve our research and development segments in respective fields. He said that the State was endeavoured to strengthen the health infrastructure. The government was providing free services for critical care under Rashtriya Bal Swasthaya Karyakram to all school children up to 18 years, and we have also impressed upon the concerned agencies that the drug menace in the State be tackled in an effective manner.
The Chief Minister said that to strengthen the paramedics various medical courses had been started in the State. Besides, super specialty services were being up-graded with financial assistance from government of India. He said that with the opening of three medical colleges at Chamba, Nahan and Hamirpur in the State, more specialized doctors would be available in rural areas to serve the needy. He said that the doctors and other paramedic’s staff should not only serve the poor and the needy but also carry the responsibility with zeal and fulfill the duties honestly. “To serve suffering humanity was not only a job but a responsibility to perform” remarked the Chief Minister. He said that this dental college was started in 1994 and the intake of BDS students was increased to 60 admissions in 2006 from 20 during his stint as Chief Minister and since then it had made rapid strides and had emerged as a pioneer dental institute.
Under the project ‘Muskan’ nearly 850 dentures had been provided to the senior citizens during 2013-14, said Virbhadra Singh adding that under similar project, Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Swasthaya Yojana, regular dental screening and treatment camps were being organized in all schools of the State besides conducting dental camps in the schools for differently abled children at Dhalli, UDAAN NGO and Kanya Bal Ashram at Durgapur at Shimla.He said that dental clinical camps were being conducted in rural and far-flung areas of the State and I am informed that 41 such camps were organized during 2013-14.Virbhadra Singh lauded the variety cultural programme and said that it shows the profound zest and zeal of the students and it was real pleasure to watch the cultural show which I am sure would have regaled the audience.
The Chief Minister launched the website of the college www.hpgdcshimla.org and also released the Souvenir on this occasion and distributed the prizes to the meritorious students.Nain Tara Sood was adjudged as the best student.Deputy Mayor, M.C Shimla Shri Tikender Panwar, Vice Chairman, HP Tourism Development Corporation Shri Harish Janaratha, Director Medical Education, Dr. Jai Shree Sharma, Principal Dental College, Shimla Dr. R.P Luthra, Principal IGMC Dr. SS Kaushal, Senior Medical Superintendent, IGMC Dr. Ramesh Chand, President, Dental Teacher’s Association Dr. S.S Kandoria, President NGO Federation Shri S.S Jogta, were present on the occasion among other faculty members, students, medical, para-medical and nursing staff of Dental College.