Shimla
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has outlined a series of healthcare reforms and revenue-enhancement measures, saying the government is working to strengthen public services, protect the state’s financial interests and move towards economic self-reliance. From expanding postgraduate medical education to securing a larger share of revenue from power projects, the government has set its sights on improving healthcare delivery and strengthening the state treasury.
The Chief Minister said Himachal Pradesh had secured approval from the Government of India to add 320 postgraduate (PG) medical seats, taking the total to 527. Describing it as the first major increase of its kind in four decades, he said the expansion would help address the shortage of specialist doctors and strengthen medical services across the state. The government aims to position Himachal Pradesh among the country’s leading states in healthcare by 2030.
As part of the reforms, candidates who have qualified for senior residency through AIIMS or PGI Chandigarh will be considered for direct appointment in state medical colleges. The monthly remuneration of senior residents has also been increased from ₹65,000 to ₹1.30 lakh, while their duty hours have been reduced from 48 hours to 12 hours, according to the Chief Minister. The measures, he said, are intended to improve working conditions and the quality of medical services.
The government is also seeking to address shortages of technical and paramedical staff. At IGMC Shimla, the number of radiographer posts has been increased from 18 to 50, while 50 posts have been created for anaesthesia-related technical staff. A paramedical college has been started in Hamirpur, with its first batch of trained professionals expected to be available in 2028. The initiative is expected to help meet the demand for radiographers, dialysis technicians and anaesthesia technicians.
Beyond medical colleges, the government has appointed doctors and staff nurses in health institutions across all Assembly constituencies. The separation of the Directorate of Health Services and the Directorate of Medical Education is another administrative reform aimed at improving efficiency in healthcare delivery and medical education. Advanced diagnostic facilities are also being expanded, with 1.5-Tesla MRI machines being installed at five locations, including Solan and Kullu, to bring specialised diagnostic services closer to patients.
The Chief Minister said these initiatives formed part of the government’s Vyavastha Parivartan agenda, focused on improving public services and making quality healthcare accessible to people near their homes. He expressed confidence that the state would emerge as a national leader in healthcare by 2030.
Power revenue push to strengthen state finances
Alongside healthcare reforms, the Chief Minister said the government had secured an important financial arrangement in negotiations over a power project, ensuring that states receiving electricity would bear the full cost of power generation rather than Himachal Pradesh settling for a 12 per cent royalty.
He said the matter was discussed in three meetings attended by senior officials, including the Chief Secretary. The state rejected an initial proposal offering only 12 per cent royalty and insisted on recovering the full expenditure incurred on power generation. According to the Chief Minister, the state’s position was eventually accepted.
The arrangement could generate around ₹600 crore annually at current electricity rates, with the figure potentially rising to approximately ₹1,500 crore after five years, depending on prevailing power prices. The Chief Minister said the additional revenue would strengthen the state treasury and help the government meet its financial commitments, including employee and pension-related obligations.
OPS commitment amid fiscal pressures
Addressing concerns over the state’s debt, the Chief Minister defended the government’s financial decisions and said it had honoured its commitment to restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) despite the resulting fiscal pressures. He said a review of the treasury after the government assumed office highlighted the need for financial reforms and responsible expenditure management.
Taking aim at the BJP, Sukhu said the opposition was blaming the present government for rising debt while overlooking the liabilities inherited from the previous regime. He claimed that Himachal Pradesh had outstanding debt of ₹70,635 crore when the Congress government took office in 2022-23, and that the previous BJP government had raised loans totalling ₹43,261 crore between 2017-18 and 2022-23.
The Chief Minister said the government was working to improve the state’s financial position by protecting its economic interests, increasing revenue and ensuring that public resources were used effectively. He maintained that strengthening healthcare infrastructure, improving administrative efficiency and securing additional income from power projects were central to the broader goal of making Himachal Pradesh economically self-reliant while meeting its commitments to employees and pensioners.
