Robotic surgery now at hospital in Himachal’s Mandi, CM unveils facility at Nerchowk hospital

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday inaugurated a robotic surgery facility at Lal Bahadur Shastri Govt Medical College at Nerchowk in Mandi district. Established for Rs 28.4 crore, this was the 3rd such facility in the state after Atal Super Speciality Hospital in Chamiyana (Shimla) and Rajendra Prasad Govt Medical College at Tanda (Kangra).The CM also personally observed the 1st surgery performed using the new system.
Sukhu said the services would soon be introduced at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Hamirpur Medical College. He said so far, 151 surgeries were performed through robotic systems at Chamiyana and 92 at Tanda, with encouraging outcomes.The CM said the state govt was working to introduce high-end medical technology in all medical colleges at a level comparable to AIIMS, Delhi. The aim, he said, was to ensure that medical colleges in the state do not remain merely referral institutions. Doctors will also be sent on exposure visits to gain better knowledge and training in modern medical technologies, he said.Regarding financial challenges, Sukhu said it took time to correct disrupted systems. He pointed out that due to the closure of the revenue deficit grant (RDG), the state budget was reduced by about Rs 10,000 crore per annum. Despite this, the govt plans to invest around Rs 3,000 crore in advanced medical technologies in the coming years, he added. The CM also announced the establishment of a cardiology department at Nerchowk. He said postgraduate (PG) courses would be started in all departments of the college. In departments where professors are not available to start PG courses, the govt will provide a one-time relaxation so that the courses can begin without delay. Additionally, the number of senior residency (SRship) posts will be increased.Box:CM Sukhu also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 14 development projects worth Rs 60 crore during his day's tour to Mandi district on Friday.The CM inaugurated a Rs 25.99-crore upgrade of the Shimla-Mandi road via Tattapani (Chail Chowk to Baggi portion) under NABARD, the Rs 6.96-crore Nehra to Fagoh via Kuthal, Bagla, Lower Natan road and motorable bridge over Kansha Khad under NABARD, the Rs 2.75-crore PWD Rest House at Dhanotu, the Rs 12-lakh Patwar Khana building at Chamyar in Balh, the Rs 14-lakh Apna Pustakalya (Library) at Gram Panchayat Kotli, the Rs 55-lakh PWD junior engineer pffice-cum-residence at Jach (Jhungi), the Rs 37-lakh community centre at Nichali Behli, and more.