Super-specialty hospital likely to start near Shimla in March

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 21

A super-specialty hospital, which is coming up on the outskirts of Shimla, is likely to become functional by March.

The hospital was supposed to become functional before this year-end but Covid and slow procurement of equipment have delayed the project. “HLL is procuring equipment for the hospital. The pace of procurement has been a little slow as the major chunk of the procurement has to come through Make-in-India initiative,” said an official. “Also, some hi-tech equipment had to come from abroad. Because of Covid, this too was delayed,” he said.

IGMC to benefit

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The IGMC doesn’t have required infrastructure for super-speciality departments. Surgeries have to be put on hold as operation theatres are not readily available. Once these departments are shifted, greater infrastructure will be at disposal. — Official

He said the order worth Rs 35 crore for equipment has already been placed and equipment worth Rs 10 crore have arrived. “Overall, equipment worth Rs 60 crore will be ordered for the hospital. Recently, the approval for 256-slice high-end CT scan machine has also been given,” said the official.

All super-specialty departments of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital will be shifted to this hospital once it becomes functional.

“This will be an excellent facility for the people. The facility will have over 300 oxygen-fitted beds, 10 operation theatres, modern ICUs and facilities for organ transplant, etc,” he said.

“At the moment, the IGMC doesn’t have the required infrastructure for super-speciality departments. Surgeries have to be put on hold as operation theatres are not readily available. So once these departments are shifted, the departments left behind will also have greater infrastructure to use,” he said.

The official said the building was almost ready with just finishing touches left. “Water and electricity connections are done. There’s some issue regarding the width of the approach road which is being looked into,” he said.

“In all likelihood, the facility will be operational by March,” the official said.