Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Thursday that the state government will provide Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) to super-speciality doctors as part of ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services in Himachal Pradesh.
Review Meeting of Health Department
Presiding over a review meeting of the Health Department, the Chief Minister reiterated the government's commitment to delivering quality healthcare to residents within the state. He assured that there is no shortage of funds for modernising the health sector and highlighted that several key initiatives undertaken over the past three and a half years have started yielding positive results.
Discussions and Roadmap for Reforms
Sukhu mentioned that the government has held multiple rounds of discussions with doctors regarding healthcare reforms. He added that he would personally visit various health institutions in the coming months to interact with doctors and formulate a roadmap for further improvements.
Strengthening Healthcare Infrastructure
The Chief Minister emphasised that all medical colleges in the state are being equipped with adequate staff and advanced medical equipment. The government is investing approximately Rs 3,000 crore in procuring modern medical machinery and equipment. Additionally, healthcare facilities at zonal and regional hospitals in districts without medical colleges are being upgraded to provide better treatment services.
Recruitment and Advanced Facilities
Recruitment drives are underway to address shortages of doctors, paramedical staff, and technicians across health institutions. Sukhu also highlighted the introduction of robotic surgery facilities, noting that this initiative has significantly benefited patients who previously had to travel outside Himachal Pradesh and incur substantial expenses for such advanced treatment.
Categorisation of Community Health Centres
The Chief Minister directed the Health Department to categorise Community Health Centres (CHCs) based on population coverage so that staffing and infrastructure can be aligned with local requirements. This move aims to ensure the availability of quality healthcare services closer to people's homes. He also reviewed the status of ongoing recruitment processes in the department.
Attendance at Meeting
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, along with senior government officials, attended the meeting.
