On CM’s orders, Rs 1,800 cr to be spent on replacing old medical equipment
Obsolete and outdated medical equipment that has been in use for the past four decades in various health institutions across the state will be replaced with state-of-the-art equipment at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore.
Considering the challenges being faced by patients due to old medical machines, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has issued orders for the replacement of the old equipment to provide better healthcare facilities to patients. The Health Department has prepared a project report to offer world-class healthcare services in government health institutions.
The obsolete medical machinery and equipment will soon be replaced and the state government has allocated around Rs 1,800 crore for the purpose. “Delays in treatment often worsen a patient’s condition and increase medical expenses. Studies indicate that late diagnosis can raise medical costs by 30 per cent to 50 per cent for a patient,” said a Health Department official.
According to the Health Department data, 9.5 lakh patients travel outside Himachal Pradesh every year for medical treatment, resulting in a loss of Rs 1,350 crore to the state’s GDP. If quality healthcare services are made available within the state, estimated Rs 550 crore of the state’s GDP can be saved every year along with valuable time of patients.
The Chief Minister has instructed the Health Department to ensure that patients receive high-quality treatment in the state and implement the plan in a time-bound manner. He has said, “The state government will work on four key aspects to revamp public healthcare institutions. First, robotic surgery will be introduced in all medical colleges along with state-of-the-art radiology and laboratory equipment. Every medical college will be equipped with 3-Tesla MRI machines, 256-slice high-end CT scan machines, PET scan machines and other advanced diagnostic tools to ensure timely detection of diseases and accurate treatment of patients. Additionally, modular operating theatres will be set up in these institutions.”
Sukhu said, “The state at present lacks a modern and well-equipped cancer hospital, forcing patients to seek treatment in other states. To address the issue, the government will establish a 150-bed cancer care centre in Hamirpur, which will offer advanced treatment facilities such as radiation therapy and nuclear medicine.”
He added, “Thirdly, healthcare services will be expanded across 69 government health institutions, including zonal, regional and district hospitals, along with community health centers. Depending on their categories, these hospitals will be equipped with fully or semi-automated laboratories, digital X-ray machines, high-end ultrasound machines, ICUs and operating theatres.”
Robotic surgery in all medical colleges
- Robotic surgery to be introduced in all medical colleges along with state-of-the-art radiology and lab equipment
- Every medical college to be equipped with 3-Tesla MRI machines, 256-slice high-end CT scan machines, PET scan machines and other advanced diagnostic tools to ensure timely detection of diseases and accurate treatment of patients
- Modular operating theatres to be set up in medical colleges
