Himachal Pradesh News
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Announces 314 New PG Medical Seats, Raises Professors’ Retirement Age to 65 in Himachal
In a major boost to medical education and healthcare infrastructure, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday announced the addition of 314 postgraduate (PG) medical seats across government medical colleges in the state.
In a major boost to medical education and healthcare infrastructure, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday announced the addition of 314 postgraduate (PG) medical seats across government medical colleges in the state.
The decision, taken during a high-level review meeting of the Medical Education Department, is aimed at strengthening both medical education quality and patient care services in Himachal Pradesh.
📊 Seat Distribution Across Medical Colleges
The newly approved PG seats will be distributed strategically to ensure balanced development across institutions:
- 96 seats at Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla
- 67 seats in Hamirpur Medical College
- 57 seats at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College Tanda
- 33 seats in Chamba
- 32 seats in Nahan
- 29 seats in Mandi
Officials believe this expansion will significantly enhance institutional efficiency and patient care delivery.
👨⚕️ Faculty Shortage Addressed with Key Reform
To tackle the ongoing shortage of experienced faculty—especially in newer colleges and super-specialty departments—the government has decided to extend the retirement age of professors to 65 years for the next three years.
Importantly, the Chief Minister clarified that this move will not impact promotional opportunities for existing staff. Additionally, Assistant and Associate Professors will be designated strategically to further bridge staffing gaps.
🏥 Major Investments in Healthcare Infrastructure
In a strong push towards modernization, the state government is investing ₹3,000 crore to equip hospitals and medical colleges with advanced medical machinery and technology.
Alongside this:
- All vacant nursing posts will be filled by November 2026
- Recruitment of technical staff is also underway
- Broader efforts are being made to resolve staffing shortages across the healthcare system
🏗️ New Projects and Expansion Plans
The government also unveiled key infrastructure developments:
- Phase II of Chamba Medical College to begin soon with an outlay of ₹192 crore
- ₹500 crore allocation announced for the construction of Nahan Medical College
These initiatives are expected to expand access to quality healthcare in remote regions.
🌿 Focus on Health Tourism
Highlighting a long-term vision, CM Sukhu emphasized the state’s commitment to promoting health tourism, positioning Himachal Pradesh as a destination for both treatment and wellness.
💬 Government’s Commitment
Reaffirming priorities, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that health and education remain top focus areas, assuring that there is no shortage of funds for these critical sectors.
📍 Meeting Highlights
The review meeting was attended by:
- Dhani Ram Shandil, Health and Family Welfare Minister
- Senior officials including Health Secretary and Director of Medical Education
- Principals of all medical colleges, who joined virtually
