Bill for new medical varsity to be introduced : Himachal CM

Chandigarh: Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh in his presiding address at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital made an announcement regarding the introduction of a bill for the opening of a new medical varsity in the state. The bill is to be introduced in the next assembly session.

He also spoke of the government’s decision to provide free medical education to ' Below Poverty Line (BPL)' and IRDP students. Speaking about fee structures, the minister mentioned the fact that medical students were pursuing a course for four and a half years and paying for five; he promised to find a solution to the problem.

Speaking of the college having started from humble beginnings to acquire a prestigious stature, Mr. Singh revealed that IGMC was now coming up with a second campus at Chamyana on 250 bighas of land near Bhattkuffar.

Releasing a souvenir titled ‘Sushruta’ and book on Pharmacology by Dr. Joginder Pathania on the occasion, the Chief Minister felicitated the founding teachers of IGMC and students of first batch (1966) of IGMC, including former principals and staff.

The Health Minister, Kaul Singh Thakur, who was present and also spoke on the occasion, called the golden jubilee a special occasion for the IGMC, as from being the first medical college of the state, it had traversed to this point of progress.Citing the ‘Out of Pocket Expenditure’ on health as being ‘797’ in the state, Kaul Singh revealed that tele medicine had also been introduced in Keylong and other remote regions of the state.

Principal IGMC, Dr. Ashok Sharma, gave details regarding expansion plan measures being taken up for the hospital, to convert it into the largest health hub of the state. Alumna of the college hospital also recalled their days at the IGMC.

A documentary, a production of the Information and Public Relations Department, on 50 years of the institution’s history and progress was also shown on this occasion, to refresh memory.