Bill to be introduced for opening Medical University: Himachal CM

Shimla, October 10, 2016: Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh said that a Bill would be introduced in next Vidhan Sabha session regarding opening of Medical University in Himachal. Besides, the government had also decided to provide free medical education to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and IRDP students.

He was presiding over the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) here today.

On fee structure, as pointed out, students were paying fee of five years for four and a half year course, the Chief Minister said that he will examine the issue and certainly will come out with a solution to it.

The Chief Minister said Indira Gandhi Medical College had expanded vast and the second campus was coming up at Chamyana on 250 bighas of land near Bhattkuffar. He said that medical education was very important to meet the health requirement of people, keeping in view the growing population in times to come, adding that there was need to open more Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres in rural areas of the State to cater to the basic health needs of the rural population.
He said that this college had been started from humble beginning had developed as one of the prestigious institute of the country and expressed hope that it would grow leaps and bounds in near future. He said his passion was to promote medical education and general education, adding that we had decided to run medical colleges efficiently. The medical college at Nahan had already started functioning, and the two medical colleges in Hamirpur and Chamba would be started soon.

The Chief Minister also released a souvenir titled ‘Sushruta’ and book on Pharmacology by Dr. Joginder Pathania.

He felicitated the founding teachers of IGMC and students of first batch (1966) of IGMC including former principals and staff.
Health Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur while addressing the occasion said that this golden jubilee was a special occasion for IGMC, being the first medical college of Himachal Pradesh which had traversed a long successful journey. He said that as of today, health services and health indicators of the State were best in the country and there was always a scope of improvement and we should work dedicatedly in this direction. He said that 77000 doctors from India were giving their specialised services in USA and many such doctors had passed or served in this prestigious institution. He said that as per capita expenditure on health, the Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) was Rs. 797 in the state. He said that telemedicine services/ had been started in Keylong and other far remote areas of the state.

Principal IGMC, Dr. Ashok Sharma detailed about the various measures being taken for expansion of the biggest hospital of the State.
A documentary, the production of Information and Public Relations department, on the long cherished journey of 50 years of IGMC was also shown on the occasion with interviews and pictorial presentation right from the first batch of 1966 till the present day scenario.

The alumni of the IGMC, who were the special invitees, also recalled their experiences while in service.

A colourful cultural programme showcasing variant cultures of the Nation was presented by the students of IGMC including Bollywood oldies sung by the faculty regaling the audience which was also appreciated by the Chief Minister.

Industries and IPR Minister, Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Vice-Chairman HPTDC, Shri Harish Janartha, Principal, Dental College, Dr. RP Luthra, Director Medical Education, Prof. Dr. KP. Chaudhary, Medical Superintendent IGMC, Dr. Ramesh Chand, Deputy MS Dr. Rahul Rao, Medical Superintendent, Kamla Nehru Hospital, Dr. LS Chaudhary, Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Dr. Ravi Sharma, Chief Patron, CSA, Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Advisor CSA, Dr. Rajesh Kashyap, Dr. Piyush Kapila, and the doctors and students of IGMC were also present on the occasion amongst others.