Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday announced that the state government would soon introduce a special incentive scheme for doctors in government service to strengthen the health sector and improve medical education in Himachal Pradesh.
Chairing a high-level meeting of the Medical Education Department in Shimla, the Chief Minister said doctors would be provided a 20 per cent incentive under the proposed scheme. He added that professors, associate professors and assistant professors serving in medical colleges would also be brought under its ambit.
In a bid to address staff shortages and improve healthcare delivery, Sukhu said the government would fill 110 posts of Assistant Professors and 120 posts of para-medical staff in medical colleges. He maintained that the move would not only strengthen medical education but also ensure better treatment facilities for patients.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to explore the possibility of constructing a new Mother and Child Hospital within the IGMC Shimla campus and identify suitable land for the project. He said the government was committed to equipping health institutions across the state with modern medical machinery and world-class equipment while simultaneously strengthening existing infrastructure.
Highlighting the shortage of specialist doctors, Sukhu said postgraduate seats in all medical colleges were being increased to meet future demands. He added that expansion of PG seats would accelerate the functioning of medical colleges and improve the quality of healthcare services.
The Chief Minister further stated that all vacant posts of nurses in medical colleges would be filled during the current year and adequate technical staff would also be deployed. He said the government was spending nearly Rs 3,000 crore to modernise medical colleges and hospitals with advanced healthcare equipment.
Sukhu expressed confidence that the health sector in Himachal Pradesh would witness a transformative change in the coming years, adding that health tourism in the state would also receive a major boost.
