Health and Family Affairs Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil today directed officials to accelerate the procurement of medical equipment to further modernize healthcare services across Himachal Pradesh. He was chairing a Special High Power Purchase Committee meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Medical Services Corporation Limited (HPMSCL).
The Minister said the state government was committed to strengthening and upgrading healthcare infrastructure to ensure advanced and quality medical services at the doorstep of every citizen. He highlighted that robotic surgery has been introduced in the state for the first time and around ₹1,110 crore has been spent on upgrading healthcare infrastructure, including the State Cancer Institute, Trauma Centres, Cancer Day Care Centres, medical colleges and Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans.
Dr. Shandil said the health sector was being further strengthened with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Under JICA Phase-I, ₹1,710 crore has been earmarked for procurement of state-of-the-art medical equipment, while a work plan worth ₹1,617 crore under Phase-II has been sent for approval to build and strengthen quality healthcare infrastructure.
He emphasized that HPMSCL plays a crucial role in ensuring quality and transparent procurement in the health sector and instructed officers to expedite tendering and purchasing processes while maintaining complete transparency.
The meeting focused on strengthening diagnostic services and procurement of advanced medical equipment, including laparoscopic surgery sets, medical consumables, surgical items, FESS endoscopy units, multipara monitors and laparoscopic instruments.
The Minister said modernization of health infrastructure and expansion of quality healthcare services was a top priority of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who has assured that all requirements of the health sector would be met without financial constraints. He added that these initiatives would reduce the need for patients to seek treatment outside the state, saving both time and money.
During the meeting, approval was granted for tender documents related to procurement of biomedical equipment for block primary healthcare units, supply of 13 single-puncture laparoscopes and establishment of track-based integrated total laboratory automation systems in government medical colleges at Hamirpur, Tanda and AIIMS Chamiyana.
The Minister said these initiatives would significantly strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve medical services for the people of Himachal Pradesh.
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