The State Government was committed to provide specialized health services to the people of the State within Himachal Pradesh for which existing health institutions and medical colleges were being modernized with latest medical equipment.This was stated by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the AWR and Obesity Live Shimla-A CME Cum Live Workshop on AWR(Abdominal Wall Reconstruct) Bariatric and Robotic Surgery organized by Department of Surgery, Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla, here today.Chief Minister said that surgery by robot was indeed a scientific miracle and an honour for IGMC to have been part of this medical feat. He said that the State Government would consider making this machine available at IGMC. He said that the Government was committed to strengthen IGMC and other medical colleges of the state, besides other health institutions.Jai Ram Thakur said that obesity was gradually emerging as a major health problem even in hill state like Himachal Pradesh due to faulty food habits. He said that with the ‘da Vinci technology’ surgeons can perform both sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries using robotic-assisted surgery and operate patients by using tiny instruments through a few small incisions.On the occasion, Chief Minister also released the Workshop souvenir.
Speaker State Vidhan Sabha Dr Rajiv Bindal said that the State was fast emerging as most progressive State of the country. He said that IGMC has emerged as one of the premier health institutions of the country. He said that health services were being strengthened in the State.Director Medical Education Ravi C Sharma urged the Chief Minister to provide this Rs 24 crore machine to IGMC to facilitate the patients.Organising Chairman of the Workshop Dr D.K Verma welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries on the occasion and detailed the salient features of this technology.Organising Secretary Prof. U.K. Chandel proposed vote of thanks.The surgery was performed by Dr. Vivek Bindal son of Speaker, H.P. Vidhan Sabha Dr. Rajiv Bindal.Wife of the Chief Minister Dr Sadhna Thakur, Deputy Principal IGMC Dr Mukund Lal, Senior Medical Superintendent IGMC Dr. Janak Raj and other Heads of Departments were also present on the occasion.