Robotic surgery to be started in four government hospitals

The state government has planned to provide the facility of advanced robotic surgery in government medical colleges at Hamirpur, Chamba, Ner Chowk (Mandi) and Nahan (Sirmaur) in a phased manner.

The facility has already been introduced at the Atal Institute of Medical Super-Specialty at Chamiyana in Shimla and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College at Tanda in Kangra. Alongside, technology upgrades are being undertaken in zonal, regional and civil hospitals to ensure modern treatment facilities.

An official spokesperson said here today that the Congress government accorded top priority to strengthening health services by providing institutions with modern medical equipment, specialist doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.

He said that the state government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was now focusing on revolutionising the health sector.

The spokesperson said, “Recently, the government had approved the bifurcation of the unified cadre of 3,020 Medical Officers into Medical Officers (General) and Medical Officers (Specialist). Under this arrangement, 2,337 posts will be designated for Medical Officer (General) with MBBS as the entry qualification, primarily catering to OPDs/IPDs and preventive healthcare.”

He added that to address the shortage of staff, the government had approved the recruitment of 200 Medical Officers, 38 Assistant Professors in various super-specialty departments and 400 staff nurses.