State Government committed to strengthen health services: CM
5 Dariya News
Shimla 08-Sep-2013
Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh said that health sector was one of the top propriety sector of the State Government and Rs. 1187 crore were being spent in this sector during current fiscal. Chief Minister was presiding over Annual Prize distribution function and Cultural Nite-2013 at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla last evening. The function was organized by Central Students Association (CSA) of IGMC.Virbhadra Singh said that Plan allocation for Medical Education had been increased from Rs. Seven crore to Rs. 30 crore which was an increase of fourfold. He said that to decongest IGMC premises a second campus would be built near Ghanahatti which would house a new 100 bedded Hospital, Dental College and Nursing College. He said that a new OT Complex for IGMC had also been approved and a new 11 storeyed OPD complex and Admin Block was being constructed at IGMC with a cost of Rs. 56 crore and 10 crore respectively.
Chief Minister said that to strengthen the specialty services in the departments of Anaesthesia, Paediatrics, Neurology, Cardiology, Biochemistry and Radiology Rs. seven crores has been provided for machinery and equipments. He said that existing department of Cancer in IGMC would be upgraded to state of art Cancer Diagnostic Services Centre and new machines like Linear Accelerator and Brachytherapy would be provided at a cost of Rs. seven crore. Besides a new block of Cancer department would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 10.35 crore.Virbhadra Singh said that foundation stone of new building for Mother & Child Hospital at Kamla Nehru Hospital (KNH) was laid yesterday. He said that it would be equipped with all modern and requisite facilities so that patients need not to go to IGMC for any tests etc. He said that Rs. 17 crore would be spent on the construction of new building of KNH itself, which would be completed within a year.
Chief Minister said that State Government was considering to enhance the stipend of Medical students which they get during their internship. He said that efforts were being made to develop IGMC as a premier health institute and Dr. Rajender Prasad Medical College Tanda was also being developed as Super Speciality Hospital in the country. Virbhadra Singh announced a grant of Rs. 50,000 to Central Students Association (CSA) IGMC. He also distributed prizes to the meritorious students of IGMC. He also appreciated the cultural programme presented by the students on the occasion.
Health Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that vacant posts of Doctors and other Para Medical Staff were being filled up to provide quality health care facilities to the people of the State. He said that 100 MBBS Doctors would be appointed during this year while 100 more next year. He said that Medical was the noblest profession and the students were lucky to get admission in IGMC which was reputed Medical College besides many students of this College got admissions in prestigious PGI Chandigarh and AIIMS for higher studies.
Principal IGMC Dr. S.S. Kaushal and President of CSA, IGMC Shri Hari Mohan Sharma welcomed the Chief Minister.MLA Shri Suresh Bhardwaj, Deputy Mayor MC Shimla Shri Tikender Panwar, Principal Secretary Health Shri Ali Raza Rizvi, Special Secretary Health Shri Amitabh Avasthi, Director Health Services Dr. Kulbhushan Sood, Director Medical Education Dr. Jaishri Sharma, Principal Dental College Dr. R.P. Luthra, Senior MS Dr. Ramesh Chand, Professors, Medical Officers and students were present on the occasion.