Govt allocates Rs193.75 crore for setting up two critical care blocks, five labs

To strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve access to quality and affordable medical services, the state government has allocated Rs 193.75 crore for setting up two critical care blocks and five district integrated public health laboratories.

A government spokesperson said that the Cabinet had approved the setting up of a 50-bed critical care block at the Primary Health Centre at Swahan village in Bilaspur and another 50-bed block at the Civil Hospital at Rohru in Shimla district. These facilities would be equipped with advanced medical infrastructure, including emergency services, intensive care units (ICUs), high dependency units, isolation beds, dialysis units, labour rooms, operating theatres and point-of-care laboratories, he added.

Each critical care block would be integrated with the existing district hospital and would function as a regular facility under normal conditions. However, during health emergencies or disease outbreak such as Covid-19, they could be physically isolated to ensure strict infection control. Each block would be constructed at a cost of Rs 16.63 crore and equipment worth Rs 27.12 crore would be provided there, he added.

The spokespersons said that the Cabinet had also approved the establishment of district integrated public health laboratories at Government Medical College, Chamba, and the District Hospital in Hamirpur attached to Medical College, Hamirpur. The aim of these laboratories was to improve diagnostic capabilities, enabling rapid testing and supporting effective disease outbreak management. Each laboratory would be fully equipped with clinical pathology, haematology, cytology, biochemistry and microbiology facilities under one roof to enhance efficiency and avoid resource duplication.

Every district integrated public health laboratory would have a team of experts comprising one pathologist, one microbiologist, one biochemist, 11 lab technicians, one data entry operator and two sanitation workers. The capital cost of every district integrated public health laboratory would be Rs 21.25 crore with an annual recurring cost of Rs 49.05 lakh each.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the procurement of equipment for the under-construction mother and child wings at the Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla, Regional Hospital, Una, and the Civil Hospital at Sundernagar in Mandi district.