Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring balanced budgetary provisions for all medical colleges in the state, emphasizing that there was no discrimination in fund allocation. Speaking in the Vidhan Sabha during the Question Hour, the CM assured legislators that every medical institution, including Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla and Tanda Medical College in Kangra, was receiving appropriate financial support from the state government.
Addressing concerns about the financial challenges faced by medical colleges, Sukhu stated that these institutions were autonomous bodies, and their principals had the authority to impose nominal user charges through the Rogi Kalyan Sabhas to generate additional revenue. He clarified that the state government had no objection to such measures if they helped improve healthcare facilities and services.
In response to a question from Nagrota Bagwan legislator Raghubir Singh Bali regarding the fund shortage at Tanda Medical College, the CM informed the House that the college currently had eight fully functional X-ray machines, while the process to procure two more was underway. He further assured that the government was looking into the issue of replacing outdated elevators at the 20-year-old medical institution. Additionally, Sukhu noted that the government was exploring the possibility of introducing senior residentship at the college, a measure that had been overlooked in the past.
When responding to Nahan legislator Ajay Solanki’s concerns, Sukhu criticized the previous BJP government for establishing a medical college near the district hospital without adequate space for expansion. He revealed that 117 bighas of land had been identified at Nauni Ka Bagh in Kanshiwala for the relocation and expansion of the medical college. The CM stressed the importance of acquiring land at the earliest to facilitate the timely construction of the new facility.
Further elaborating on the challenges faced in the construction of medical colleges, Sukhu addressed a supplementary question from Paonta Sahib MLA Sukh Ram Chaudhary. He stated that Rs 100.88 crore had already been spent on the medical college building at the existing site. However, the project was currently stalled due to an arbitration dispute, with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and the contractor demanding Rs 370 crore to complete the construction. The CM clarified that due to space constraints, setting up the college at the current site was impractical, making the land acquisition process for the new site even more crucial.
The Chief Minister’s remarks underscored his administration’s proactive approach in addressing healthcare infrastructure issues in Himachal Pradesh. By ensuring equitable budget distribution and supporting revenue generation initiatives for medical colleges, the state government aims to enhance the quality of medical education and patient care.
Inputs are taken from the web, and this is also a web-generated news report.
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