Shimla, August 10
BJP Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kumar Kashyap has raised issues concerning medical colleges, MBBS and postgraduate seats, availability of doctors and specialists, and the overall health infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh in the Lok Sabha.
Responding to Unstarred Question No. 3439 on August 7, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said that 846 MBBS seats are currently available in seven government medical colleges and 150 seats in one private medical college in the state, taking the total to 996 MBBS seats.
The minister said Himachal Pradesh has 307 postgraduate medical seats in six government medical colleges and 93 PG seats in one private medical college, making a total of 400 PG seats.
Kashyap had sought details of government and private medical colleges, undergraduate and postgraduate seats, affiliated hospitals, sanctioned and working posts of doctors, specialists, nurses and other healthcare workers at district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs and sub-health centres.
According to the Centre, three medical colleges at Chamba, Hamirpur and Nahan, established under the centrally sponsored scheme for new medical colleges attached to existing district/referral hospitals, are now operational.
The Centre has also approved ₹144 crore for adding 120 MBBS seats in six medical colleges in Himachal Pradesh. In addition, ₹14.50 crore has been approved for adding 17 postgraduate seats at one medical college.
The Union Minister clarified that public health and hospitals are primarily the responsibility of state governments. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial assistance to states through various schemes and Programme Implementation Plans to strengthen manpower, equipment and healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
The Centre further said that information regarding sanctioned posts, working staff and vacancies is available in the Health Dynamics of India 2023-24 report. However, data on doctors completing MBBS and MD/MS courses during the last three academic years is not maintained centrally.
Kashyap said the Narendra Modi-led government has significantly expanded medical education and healthcare infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh. He highlighted the establishment of AIIMS Bilaspur under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) and the approval of super-specialty block projects at government medical colleges in Tanda and Shimla.
He said the expansion of medical colleges, MBBS and PG seats and super-specialty facilities will strengthen Himachal Pradesh’s healthcare system in the long term.
“In a hilly state like Himachal Pradesh, ensuring healthcare access to the last person is particularly important due to difficult geographical conditions,” Kashyap said, adding that he would continue to raise the state’s healthcare requirements before the Centre.
