Himachal Govt to introduce robotic surgery facilities in the state

The Himachal Pradesh government will soon open the recruitment process for specialist surgeons to introduce robotic surgery facilities in the state.

The step is to make high-quality medical treatment available within government health centers for ensuring high-quality healthcare reach to the residents of the state.

A proposal to present the recruitment regulations for these specialist surgeons to the state Cabinet for approval is coming up soon. 

Aside from conducting surgeries, the hired specialists will also teach other physicians robotic surgical skills, which will help establish a future-proof team of competent professionals in the dtate.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu revealed this information in a review meeting of the Health Department on Friday evening.

The Chief Minister declared, "The government is determined to extend quality health care services to the people by way of public health institutions. New technologies and health equipment are being fitted in all government medical colleges and other health institutions within the State."

Health facilities akin to AIIMS, Delhi will be offered at the Atal Institute of Medical Super-Specialty at Chamiyana, while robotic surgery facilities will also be started shortly at this institute, while a robotic surgical system will also be soon installed at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, he added.

He further ordered the department to proceed with the process of installing robotic surgical machines at Hamirpur Medical College and Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, as a part of the State's efforts towards modernised healthcare services.

Sukhu further insisted on filling empty posts in the health department at the earliest to further consolidate healthcare delivery in Himachal Pradesh.

The Directorate of Medical Education will hire 100 fresh medical officers, whereas 50 more nurses will be recruited at Chamiyana shortly, he mentioned, and recruitment is under way for paramedical staff, technicians, and other support staff to add to the overall capacity of the state's health infrastructure.

He stated "The state government has raised the honorarium of operation theatre assistants from Rs. 17,820 to Rs. 25,000 and radiographers and X-ray technicians from Rs. 13,100 to Rs. 25,000 per month."

Sukhu stated that in order to solve the dearth of paramedical education seats in the government sector, the government has concluded to raise intake capacity in major courses after 23 years in order to strengthen the health sector.

In IGMC Shimla, seats in courses of B.Sc. Medical Laboratory Technology, B.Sc. Radiology and Imaging, and B.Sc. Anesthesia and OT Technology have been enhanced from 10 to 50 in each course. Likewise, at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, seats in courses of B.Sc. Medical Laboratory Technology, B.Sc. Radiology and Imaging, and B.Sc. Anesthesia and OT Technology have been augmented from 18 to 50 in each course.". This will allow local youth to be professionally trained within the state itself," he added.