Himachal CM Sukhu: ₹500 crore diagnostic push for all medical colleges
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh is betting ₹500 crore on diagnostic infrastructure that, according to CM Sukhu, rivals AIIMS Delhi — and isn't yet available at AIIMS Bilaspur. Paired with a 650-doctor recruitment drive and northern India's first allied health sciences institute, this is the most comprehensive healthcare push the state has announced in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
CM Sukhvinder Sukhu announced ₹500 crore worth of modern diagnostic equipment to be installed across all Himachal Pradesh medical colleges.
The equipment is said to match standards currently available only at AIIMS New Delhi , surpassing even AIIMS Bilaspur and major Punjab cities.
The government plans to recruit 300 Medical Officers , 200 specialist doctors , and 150 super-specialist doctors .
Specialist doctors are being deployed at all 70 Adarsh Medical Institutions statewide.
Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Jolsappar will soon be inaugurated, hosting northern India's first allied health sciences institute.
Senior Secondary School, Kangu has been designated a Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School with a new building planned.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Sunday, 30 August announced that the state government is actively working to equip all medical colleges with state-of-the-art diagnostic services, backed by modern equipment worth approximately ₹500 crore. The Chief Minister made the announcement while inaugurating a public health camp in the Nadaun Assembly constituency of Hamirpur district.
Scale of the Diagnostic Upgrade
Sukhu stated that the advanced machinery being installed at Himachal's medical colleges is currently available only at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. Notably, such facilities are not yet operational even at AIIMS Bilaspur or in major Punjab cities such as Ludhiana and Jalandhar, he said. The Chief Minister argued that this upgrade would make diagnostics more accurate and ensure patients receive the right treatment without delay.
Specialist Doctor Recruitment Drive
Beyond infrastructure, the government is simultaneously addressing the shortage of medical personnel. Sukhu announced plans to recruit 300 Medical Officers, 200 specialist doctors, and 150 super-specialist doctors. In addition, specialist doctors are being posted at all 70 Adarsh Medical Institutions across the state, bringing quality healthcare closer to people in their localities. Doctors have already been appointed at hospitals in Nadaun, Kangu, Galore, and Dhaneta.
New Medical College and Allied Health Sciences Institute
Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College at Jolsappar is set to be inaugurated shortly, the Chief Minister said. Significantly, the institution will also house the first allied health sciences college of its kind in northern India, to be established on the same campus. Sukhu said he has directed the Vice-Chancellor to ensure admissions begin in the current academic year, so that allied health sciences professionals can be trained within Hamirpur itself.
Education and Broader Development Commitments
The Chief Minister also announced that the Senior Secondary School at Kangu has been designated as a Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School, with a new school building to be constructed and modern educational facilities provided to students. Sukhu acknowledged the state's challenging economic circumstances but asserted that the government is committed to self-reliance and will not allow funding shortfalls in health and education. Similar public health camps are planned for Nadaun and other parts of Hamirpur in the near future.
Point of View
But Himachal has historically struggled to retain specialists in remote postings; announcements of this scale have stalled at the deployment stage before. The allied health sciences institute in Hamirpur is genuinely differentiated for the region, but its impact hinges entirely on whether admissions actually begin this year as directed. The broader pattern here is a government using health infrastructure as a political signal in a fiscally stressed state — the test will be in delivery timelines, not inauguration ceremonies.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ₹500 crore diagnostic upgrade announced by Himachal CM Sukhu?
It is a state government initiative to install modern diagnostic equipment worth approximately ₹500 crore across all medical colleges in Himachal Pradesh. CM Sukhu said the machinery is comparable to what is available at AIIMS New Delhi and is not yet present even at AIIMS Bilaspur.
How many doctors is the Himachal government planning to recruit?
The government plans to recruit a total of 650 doctors — 300 Medical Officers, 200 specialist doctors, and 150 super-specialist doctors. Specialist doctors are also being posted at all 70 Adarsh Medical Institutions across the state.
What is the significance of Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College at Jolsappar?
The college, set to be inaugurated shortly, will house the first allied health sciences institute in northern India. CM Sukhu has directed the Vice-Chancellor to begin admissions in the current academic year so professionals can be trained locally in Hamirpur.
Where was the announcement made and who attended?
CM Sukhu made the announcements on 30 August while inaugurating a public health camp in the Nadaun Assembly constituency of Hamirpur district. He also appealed to residents to make full use of the camp and said similar camps would be organised in Nadaun and other parts of Hamirpur soon.
What educational announcement was made alongside the health initiatives?
The Senior Secondary School at Kangu has been designated a Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding School. A new school building will be constructed and students will receive modern educational facilities as part of the announcement.
