Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired a review meeting of the state Health Department in Shimla on 10 July 2026, directing officials to equip all government medical colleges with state-of-the-art medical equipment by the end of this year. The announcement came alongside a series of infrastructure, recruitment, and equipment decisions aimed at bringing district-level institutions up to national standards.

Context

Posting on X in Hindi, CM Sukhu stated that health institutions across the state are being developed on the lines of AIIMS, New Delhi — 'एम्स, नई दिल्ली की तर्ज पर स्वास्थ्य संस्थानों में अत्याधुनिक सुविधाएं विकसित की जा रही हैं' [advanced facilities are being developed in health institutions on the lines of AIIMS, New Delhi]. The meeting was attended by senior Health Department officials and other dignitaries.

The review covered medical colleges at Tanda, Hamirpur, Chamiana, and Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla — the state's four principal government teaching hospitals. Each institution featured in specific spending or procurement announcements made at the meeting.

Policy Backdrop

The government has released Rs 75 crore for the installation of state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratories at the medical colleges in Tanda, Hamirpur, and Chamiana. A PET scan machine has already been installed at IGMC, Shimla, while procurement of PET scan machines for Tanda and Hamirpur medical colleges is currently under way.

On the infrastructure side, Rs 5.76 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of three lecture theatres and an examination building at IGMC, Shimla. A further Rs 14.13 crore has been earmarked for a lecture theatre at Tanda Medical College. At Chamiana, a critical block costing Rs 23.75 crore and an additional block costing Rs 42 crore are under construction.

Himachal Pradesh has pursued phased upgradation of its medical college network since the expansion of government institutions in the 2010s, with successive governments citing the need to reduce patient outflow to central institutes such as AIIMS and PGI Chandigarh.

Stakeholders and Impact

The recruitment dimension of the review is substantial. The process of filling 71 paramedical posts across various categories and 50 Junior Office Assistant (IT) posts is ongoing. In addition, 162 new paramedical posts have been sanctioned, which, once filled, will expand the frontline health workforce across these institutions.

Medical students stand to benefit from a stated commitment to improve the academic environment, with the government ensuring a batch strength of 60 students per batch at the medical colleges. Patients in districts served by Tanda, Hamirpur, and Chamiana — historically dependent on Shimla for advanced diagnostics — would gain access to PET scan facilities and upgraded laboratories closer to home.

What's Next

The key milestones to watch are the operationalisation of the Rs 75 crore diagnostic laboratories and the completion of PET scan procurement for Tanda and Hamirpur — both of which will determine whether the year-end deadline set by CM Sukhu is met. The outcome of the paramedical recruitment process, including the newly sanctioned 162 posts, will be a measure of the government's ability to staff the upgraded facilities once they are ready. Progress on the construction blocks at Chamiana will also be closely watched given the combined outlay of over Rs 65 crore.