Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today inaugurated New OPD building of Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla here today. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister said that this building has been constructed by spending an amount of Rs. 103.18 crore, out of which Rs. 73 crore has been provided during the tenure of the present State Government. He said that originally this building was to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 46 crore, the present State Government revised it to Rs. 103 crore in 2019 so that a much more bigger building could be constructed to meet out the future requirements. He said that Rs. 40 crore was also being spent on construction of Trauma Centre which would be completed by June this year.
He said that IGMC is the premier Medical College and Hospital of the State and the State Government was committed to fully equip it by providing world class men and machinery. He said that keeping in view the rush of patients in this institution, it was felt that more infrastructure would be provided in this institution. He said the New OPD Block would go a long way in meeting this objective. Chief Minister said that doctors, paramedical staff and other health workers of the State have worked with great dedication and commitment to contain spread of corona pandemic. He said that the new variant of coronavirus was also a matter of concern. He expressed hope that with the collective efforts and dedication of the doctors and health workers, the State would also succeed in coming out from this pandemic as well.
Jai Ram Thakur said that Rs. 32 crore parking was coming up near IGMC under the Smart City Project which would facilitate the patients, doctors and attendants and general public. He said that apart from six medical colleges in Government sector, one AIIMS was also coming up in the State at Bilaspur, which was possible due to benevolence of the Prime Minister and National BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda. He said that AIIMS Bilaspur would be dedicated to the State in the month of June this year. Chief Minister said that there were only two Oxygen plants in the State during first wave of corona pandemic and today the State has 41 oxygen plants in different parts of the State. He said that there were only 50 ventilators in the State at that time and today the State has over 1000 ventilators. He said that it was possible due to the focused approach of the present State Government.
He said that the State Government not only created better infrastructure in the State, but also ensured that the poor people get free treatment in case of serious illness. He said that over Rs. 200 crore have been spent under Mukhya Mantri HIMCARE and Rs. 3000 were being provided per month to the families with a chronically ill patient under Mukhya Mantri Sahara Yojna. Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that the State Government has ensured strengthening of the IGMC by setting up another Oxygen Plant in this premier health institution of the State. He said that today the State has 41 oxygen plants in the State and the credit of this goes to the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. He said that several schemes have been started for the poor patients so that they could get better and specialized treatment free of cost. He said that Mukhya Mantri HIMCARE and Mukhya Mantri Sahara Yojana have been proving boon to the people of the State.
Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal said that the State today can boast of seven Medical Colleges in the State, which include six medical colleges in government sector. He said that an AIIMS has also been established at Bilaspur, which would be dedicated to the nation by mid of this year by the Prime Minister. He said that the new OPD would go a long way in providing better health services to the patients, particularly during the pandemic. Director Medical Education Rajneesh Pathania welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion. He said that the health sector has been strengthened during the last four years due to the commitment and dedication of the Chief Minister. Chairman HIMFED Ganesh Dutt, Mayor Shimla Municipal Corporation Satya Kaundal, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Trilok Jamwal, Principal Secretary PWD Subashish Panda, Engineer-in-Chief PWD Archana Thakur were present on the occasion among others.