Himachal govt puts healthcare modernization at top priority

Realizing that the best way to measure the progress of society is through the health and education system, the Himachal Pradesh government has placed healthcare modernization at the top priority.

"In a mere two and a half years, the government has introduced a chain of revolutionizing measures to provide quality healthcare within the reach of all regions of the state — from city towns to remotest villages," a government spokesperson declared here on Sunday.

Himachal Pradesh now offers doorstep health care services from 2,926 government health facilities, six medical colleges, three zonal hospitals, nine regional hospitals, 92 civil hospitals, 107 CHCs, 585 PHCs, and 2,116 sub-health centers, he told.

On a targeted basis, several hospitals in the state have been upgraded, he mentioned, informing that the Civil Hospital in Kaza (Lahaul-Spiti) was increased from 20 to 50 beds, and facilities in Sujanpur (Hamirpur), Sunni (Shimla), and Haroli (Una) were raised from 50 to 100 beds. ESIC Hospital in Gagret (Una) has been made a Civil Hospital.

"New medical infrastructure has also been added by the state, like block medical offices at Baddi (Solan), Jai Singhpur and Dehra (Kangra), and new PHCs and sub-health centers in Sirmaur and Solan districts. During the period from January 2023 to December 2024, the Health Department served more than 3.27 crore OPD patients and 37.5 lakh IPD patients — an indicator of the widening coverage and capacity of the system," he added.

For equal accessibility to diagnosis and specialist facilities, the government is setting up one model health center in every 68 Assembly constituencies, two in Lahaul-Spiti and so 69 in all, said the Minister, adding that each facility will have six specialists who will conduct 134 diagnostic tests, including medicine, surgery, gynaecology, pediatrics, anesthesiology, and radiology. Upgrades also include addition of ultrasound, digital X-ray, and in phases chosen by it, MRI and CT scan machines.

He also stated that recruitment has been stepped up with 185 Medical Officers, 130 Staff Nurses, and staff in other vital positions being appointed. 

Another 491 vacancies have been added to cater to the growth of services, he added.

"The 2025–26 budget allocates Rs 1,730 crore to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment, with dialysis facilities to be made available in all 69 model institutions and blood storage facilities planned for 11," said the spokesperson.

State-of-the-art diagnostic equipment like MRI machines and PET scans are being installed in top hospitals such as Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla and AIIMS Chamiyana.

There is a new initiative, the Mukhyamantri Vridhjan Dekhbhal Yojana, which will provide home-based care to citizens who are 70 and above years of age, he added.

These consistent efforts have placed Himachal Pradesh on the road to becoming a model of healthcare excellence and a future hub for health tourism within India, he said.