Shimla, March 6 – Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated a robotic surgery facility at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College in Nerchowk, in the Mandi district, on Friday.
The facility, established with an investment of ₹28.44 crore, marked another step in strengthening advanced healthcare services in the state.
Following the Atal Super Speciality Hospital in Chamiyana in Shimla and the Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda in the Kangra district, the Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital is now the third medical institution in the state to offer robotic surgery.
The Chief Minister also observed the first surgery performed using the new system.
Chief Minister Sukhu said that robotic surgery services would soon be introduced at the Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla and the Hamirpur Medical College.
He said that 151 surgeries have been performed using robotic systems in Chamiyana, and 92 at the Tanda Medical College, with encouraging results.
The Chief Minister said that the government has been working to introduce high-end medical technology in all medical colleges, on par with AIIMS Delhi.
The aim, he said, is to ensure that medical colleges in the state do not remain merely referral institutions.
Doctors will also be sent on exposure visits to gain better knowledge and training in modern medical technologies.
Addressing financial challenges, Sukhu said that it normally takes time to correct disrupted systems.
He pointed out that the closure of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) has resulted in a reduction of approximately ₹10,000 crore in the state budget annually.
Despite this, the government plans to invest around ₹3,000 crore in advanced medical technologies in the coming years.
He emphasised that no shortage of funds would be allowed to hinder improvements in healthcare services.
The Chief Minister also announced the establishment of a cardiology department at the Medical College in Nerchowk.
He said that postgraduate courses would be started in all departments of the college.
The Chief Minister also announced that medical colleges would have student sections of 60 each, with the staff strength maintained accordingly to ensure better quality of medical education.
