Himachal Pradesh marked a significant chapter in its medical history with the launch of robotic surgery at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties, Chamiyana (Shimla) today. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the State’s first robotic surgery facility and witnessed the first operation performed using this advanced technology.
Following the inauguration, the Chief Minister reviewed the hospital functioning in a meeting with staff and assured full government support for strengthening the institute.He announced the creation of new departments, recruitment of lab technicians and dialysis technicians and allocation of Rs. 11 crore for the construction of a hostel. A high-end 3-Tesla MRI machine will also be installed soon.
Additionally, the Chief Minister also announced Rs. 23 crore for setting up an in-house automated laboratory at Chamiyana. Recalling his own robotic surgery five years ago, Sh. Sukhu said: "This was the seed of an idea and today it has become a reality.
With this facility, cutting-edge medical care will now be accessible even to common people. Soon, robotic surgery services will be introduced in a phased manner in the IGMC Shimla, Nerchowk, Tanda, and Hamirpur Medical Colleges."
The Chief Minister said that the government was investing over Rs. 3,000 crore on modern healthcare technology, replacing outdated machines, including the 20-year-old MRI machine at the IGMC Shimla. He stressed that the health sector reforms remain a top priority, with no shortage of funds.
After more than 23 years, the State Government has also increased seats in technician courses. He said that in the IGMC Shimla, seats for B.Sc. Medical Laboratory Technology, B.Sc. Radiology & Imaging, and B.Sc. Anaesthesia & OT Technology have been raised from 10 to 50. At Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda, seats for the same courses have been increased from 18 to 50, enabling youth to get training within the State.
He said that automated in-house labs would also be set up at Tanda, Nerchowk, Hamirpur, Nahan and Chamba medical colleges to benefit patients. He said that the State Government has prioritized reforms in the health sector and there is no dearth of funds for this purpose.
He was personally engaging with doctors to bring about improvements in health sector. Discussions have already been held with doctors at Shimla and Tanda Medical Colleges, and the Chief Minister would soon visit Nerchowk to gather feedback and implement enhancements there as well.
"Through Vyavstha Parivartan, we are making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant," he stated. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a paperless Lab in the AIMSS, Chamiyana. The Chamiyana hospital has also become the first government hospital in the State to offer patients online access to their reports.
The patients will receive all their reports on their mobile phones, while doctors will be able to access them directly on their systems. He lauded the efforts of the staff and asked to streamline the registration system and make it patient friendly.
Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil described the occasion as a revolutionary leap in the State’s healthcare sector and said that Himachal Pradesh would soon set an example for other States in delivering high-quality medical services. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh thanked the Chief Minister for providing robotic surgery facility and urged for better residential facilities for the doctors and staff.
Principal of Chamiyana Medical College, Dr. Brij Sharma, noted that the institute has been equipped with one of the most advanced robotic machines in the country, one not even available at the PGI Chandigarh, and at par with the AIIMS Delhi. In the next six months, the facility aims to perform 400 robotic surgeries.
MLA Ajay Solanki, Chief Minister's Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan, Mayor MC Shimla Surender Chauhan, Chief Minister's Secretary Rakesh Kanwar and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.