IGMC to be centre of excellence: CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 1

Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), the only institution to have the facility of invasive cardiology procedures since 1997, is now ready to be reshaped into a centre of excellence. This was stated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

Presiding over the continuing medical education programme (CME)-cum-conference of the Cardiology Department, the Chief Minister said: “I want a full-fledged cardiology wing in the IGMC so that those suffering from heart ailments don’t have to go to far-off places.”

Open heart surgery was started in 2005 at the premier institution. The Cardiology Department is equipped with a modern cath lab, intensive care unit, pacemaker, colour doppler, echo-cardiograph and many tests are done here.

Virbhadra said the state government was committed to providing the state-of-the-art equipment and technology to the hospital so that people could get the best of medical facilities here.

“The IGMC can boast of the highest ‘value’ health system in the country in terms of quality education at the lowest cost, healthcare for the unreserved ameliorating out-of-pocket expenditure,” he said.

Virbhadra said the health sector was among the priority areas of his government and all efforts were being made to provide better health services in the state. “Medical is a noble profession and I expect you all to serve humanity with dedication and uphold the values and dignity of this profession,” he told doctors.

The first prize for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) registration was given to the Regional Hospital, Hamirpur, and the second to the Regional Hospital, Mandi. The best private registration of ACS was given to Dr Vijay Sehgal from Charitable Hospital, Bhota.

Health Minister Kaul Singh said the government was spending about Rs 26,000 per person annually.