While working with utmost priority to provide better health services to the people at their doorstep, the State Government has given priority to opening new health institutions in rural areas and special efforts are being made to strengthen the health infrastructure. New appointments have been made to fill the vacant posts of doctors and para-medical staff in the health institutions of the state and modern machines and equipment have been arranged to improve testing facilities.
In order to provide door-to-door health services in remote areas, it has been decided to launch Mukhyamantri Mobile Clinic Yojna and model primary health center will be developed in each health block. It has also been decided to purchase 50 new ambulances for the convenience of the patients. The OPD block of IGMC, Shimla has been constructed at a cost of Rs.103.18 crore for which Rs 73 crore was made available during the tenure of the present state government. A Trauma center is being constructed in this hospital, which would go a long way in providing better treatment facilities to the patients in emergency situations. After facing the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic, the state government has strengthened the health infrastructure to successfully meet any future pandemic situation.
Today 48 oxygen plants, more than 1000 ventilators are available in the state. More than 5000 oxygen concentrators are available up to the sub-health center level and a capacity of more than 10 thousand oxygenated beds has been created. During its tenure, the state government has opened 33 new sub-health centres, 46 primary health centres, eight health sub-centres with a view to expand health services. At the same time, 31 Primary Health Centers have been upgraded as Community Health Centers and 18 Community Health Centers have been upgraded as Civil Hospitals. Apart from this, the capacity of beds in various hospitals has been increased and approval has been given to open new educational institutions at many places.
The present state government has filled the posts of 1654 Medical Officers, 975 Staff Nurses, 76 Junior Office Assistants, 199 Female Health Workers, 194 Laboratory Assistants, 35 Operation Theater Assistants, 462 Pharmacists, 111 Radiographers and 11 Ophthalmic Officers. The state government has taken a decision to fill 500 new posts of medical officers this year. Apart from this, 200 posts of Ayurvedic Medical Officers will be filled in the department of AYUSH, out of which 100 posts will be filled by direct recruitment and remaining on batch wise basis. It has also been decided to fill 100 posts of Ayurvedic Pharmacist on contract basis in the AYUSH department.
In the last four years, 10 Ayurveda health centers have been opened and three Ayurveda hospitals have been upgraded in the state. The Center of Excellence for Geriatric Health, constructed at a cost of Rs 8.37 crore has been started at Paprola in Kangra district. With the cooperation of the government of India, AIIMS has been set up in Bilasuper and PGI satellite center at Una. Moreover, three medical colleges have also been established in the state. The Government of India has approved a Medical Device Park for the state, the work of which will start in Nalagarh this year. Rs. 5000 crores will be invested in this park and 10 thousand people will get employment opportunities
