Presiding over a high-level review meeting of the Health Education and Health Department, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday outlined a series of far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening Himachal Pradesh’s medical education framework and healthcare delivery system. At the core of these initiatives is the formulation of a comprehensive Senior Residency Policy for all medical colleges in the state, a move expected to improve manpower planning, academic growth, and patient services across institutions.
The proposed policy will focus on rationalisation of senior resident posts to ensure optimal and transparent utilisation of available human resources. By addressing long-standing imbalances in staffing patterns, the government aims to create a more stable academic and clinical environment in medical colleges, benefitting both young doctors and patients. As part of this reform, the Chief Minister announced that the quota for General Duty Officers in senior residency will be enhanced to 66 percent, replacing the existing 50:50 ratio between GDOs and direct recruits. This step is expected to provide greater career progression opportunities to in-service doctors while ensuring continuity in healthcare delivery, particularly in government-run institutions.
In a significant boost to postgraduate medical education, the state government will introduce MD and MS programmes in additional disciplines at medical colleges in Chamba, Nahan, Hamirpur and Nerchowk. These expansions are expected to reduce the outflow of medical graduates to other states for higher studies and help Himachal Pradesh develop a stronger pool of specialist doctors. Over time, this will also translate into improved availability of specialised medical services within the state, especially in geographically challenging and underserved regions.
Taking the reforms a step further, the Chief Minister announced that super-specialty services will be strengthened through the appointment of Doctorate of Medicine and Master of Chirurgiae specialists in medical colleges. The inclusion of DM and MCh doctors will significantly enhance advanced treatment capabilities, reducing the need for patients to seek costly care outside the state. Alongside this, state-of-the-art Intensive Care Units equipped with advanced medical technology will be established in all medical colleges, improving critical care infrastructure and emergency response capacity.
Patient-centric reforms also featured prominently in the meeting. To enhance facilitation and ease of access within health institutions, the state government will appoint 1,000 Patient Care Assistants, known as Rogi Mitras. Of these, 500 will be deployed in medical colleges and 500 in other health institutions. A pilot project will be launched from Hamirpur district, where a Standard Operating Procedure has already been prepared. In its initial phase, Rogi Mitras will be stationed at Primary Health Centres to assist patients in navigating healthcare services, appointments, and basic procedures.
Special attention will be given to elderly patients as part of the pilot initiative. Rogi Mitras will be deployed on an experimental basis to assist patients above the age of 70 at Chamiyana Hospital, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College Tanda and Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla. Dedicated Rogi Mitra counters will also be set up in these institutions, aiming to reduce waiting times, improve patient experience, and ensure dignified care for senior citizens.
To strengthen hospital administration and data management, Data Entry Operators will be deployed across various OPDs in medical colleges. This measure is expected to improve systematic recording, retrieval, and analysis of patient-related data, supporting better clinical decisions, monitoring, and long-term planning.
Emphasising the government’s commitment to healthcare excellence, Chief Minister Sukhu said that innovative interventions combined with long-term strategic planning are being implemented to reinforce health education and medical services. The overarching objective, he stated, is to position Himachal Pradesh among the leading states in the country in terms of healthcare quality, accessibility, and academic strength.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor on IT, Innovation and Digital Technology, Secretary Health Priyanka Basu Ingty, Special Secretary Health Ashwani Sharma and Jitender Sanjta, Director Health Education Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Dr. Gopal Beri, and other senior officers from both departments. Their presence underscored the coordinated, multi-departmental approach being adopted to translate policy decisions into on-ground improvements for doctors, students, and patients alike.
