Himachal Pradesh Announces Major Healthcare Investment and Administrative Reforms
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu made significant announcements for Himachal Pradesh's healthcare sector on Saturday. He revealed plans during a state-level 'Health Dialogue Session' held at Peterhoff in Shimla.
Substantial Financial Commitments for Healthcare
The state government will spend Rs 1,300 crore to strengthen the healthcare delivery system across Himachal Pradesh. This substantial investment aims to improve medical services for residents.
Sukhu also announced an additional investment of nearly Rs 3,000 crore over the next three years. These funds will equip health institutions with world-class, high-end medical technology.
Extended Dialogue with Medical Officers
The Chief Minister engaged in an extended interaction with chief medical officers, block medical officers and medical superintendents from across the state. The dialogue session continued for nearly four-and-a-half hours.
During this extensive meeting, participants discussed grassroots challenges, operational issues and policy-level reforms. The state government issued a statement confirming that several key decisions were taken on the spot. These decisions ensure immediate resolution of long-pending matters.
Decentralization of Administrative Powers
A major reform announced during the session involves decentralizing administrative and financial powers. Chief medical officers, block medical officers and medical superintendents will receive enhanced financial authority.
The government will introduce necessary amendments in financial rules to make procedures simpler, faster and more effective. Financial and decision-making powers related to sanitation arrangements in health institutions will be delegated directly to chief medical officers.
Special dedicated funds will also be created for chief medical officers and medical superintendents. These funds will help meet urgent and essential hospital requirements without bureaucratic delays.
Improvements for Medical Professionals
Sukhu stated that the state government would actively consider increasing salaries for job trainee doctors. This move aims to attract and retain medical talent in Himachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister informed attendees that recruitment of 236 doctors is currently underway. Additionally, 150 additional posts have already received sanction.
To ensure complete transparency in recruitment processes, marks obtained in both written examinations and interviews will be included in the final merit list. This approach eliminates ambiguity in selection procedures.
Infrastructure Development and Modernization
The Chief Minister issued a directive regarding construction works on health institution buildings. Any project that has achieved more than 60% progress must be completed by March 31 without fail.
The state government will invest Rs 75 crore in establishing smart labs across healthcare facilities. These labs will enable multiple diagnostic tests from a single blood sample. This technology ensures faster, accurate and patient-friendly diagnostics for residents.
The comprehensive announcements demonstrate Himachal Pradesh's commitment to transforming its healthcare system through substantial investment and administrative reforms.
