Himachal CM Sukhu inaugurates Nuclear Medicine Block at IGMC-Shimla

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Nuclear Medicine Block at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, marking the introduction of advanced Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan services in the public healthcare system of Himachal Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the new facility would significantly ease access to high-end diagnostic services for patients within the state. He noted that until now, patients often had to travel outside Himachal Pradesh for PET scans, leading to delays and increased financial burden. “This is the first facility of its kind in the government sector of the state and represents a major step toward strengthening specialised healthcare services,” he said.

Highlighting the clinical importance of PET imaging, Sukhu explained that the technology enables early detection of diseases at metabolic and molecular levels. Unlike conventional imaging methods such as CT and MRI, which primarily detect structural changes, PET scans identify physiological alterations at much earlier stages. He added that the facility would play a crucial role in cancer care, including staging, restaging, treatment response evaluation, detection of recurrence, and prognostication.

The Chief Minister further elaborated that PET scans are widely used in diagnosing and managing a broad spectrum of malignancies, including brain, lung, breast, colorectal and thyroid cancers, among others. He also pointed out the growing application of PET imaging in cardiology, neurology and in assessing infections and inflammatory diseases where conventional imaging may not yield clear results.

Reaffirming the government’s focus on modernising healthcare infrastructure, Sukhu said that a 3 Tesla MRI machine had recently been installed at the IGMC. He announced plans to invest over Rs 3,000 crore in upgrading medical technology across healthcare institutions in the state to ensure affordable, world-class treatment. Additionally, he sanctioned Rs 8 crore for the installation of a SPECT-CT scan machine at the hospital.