Central Government Approves 320 New PG Medical Seats for Himachal Pradesh
The Indian government has approved 320 new PG medical seats in Himachal Pradesh, enhancing medical education and healthcare services in the state.
New Delhi, October 24 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian government has announced a significant boost for medical education in Himachal Pradesh. On October 24, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda revealed that the central government has approved the addition of 320 new postgraduate (PG) medical seats across six government medical colleges in the state. This initiative comes with a financial grant of approximately ₹415 crores.
Nadda emphasized the importance of this decision, stating that it will provide more opportunities for local youth to pursue advanced medical education within their own state. The increase in the number of qualified doctors is expected to enhance healthcare services for the residents of Himachal Pradesh.
The proposal was expedited by the central government after receiving it from the Himachal government on June 23. Following discussions with the Chief Minister during the AIIMS Bilaspur convocation on October 6, the approval for all 320 seats was granted.
“The central government has swiftly approved all 320 seats based on Himachal’s proposal. We anticipate that the state government will also take prompt actions so that the youth and the public can benefit from this initiative as soon as possible,” Nadda stated.
The breakdown of the new seats includes 91 for Shimla, 57 each for Tanda and Hamirpur, 55 for Mandi, 32 for Nahan, and 28 for Chamba. This expansion aims to increase the availability of specialists in various fields such as surgery, orthopedics, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and oncology, ultimately improving healthcare services in the region.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to expanding medical education, Nadda noted that over the past 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, significant steps have been taken. The central government has also approved a plan to add 10,000 new UG and PG medical seats across the country over the next five years, with Himachal Pradesh’s 320 new PG seats being part of this initiative.
Nadda urged the Himachal government to take necessary steps to ensure the timely implementation of the new seats so that students can benefit as soon as possible. He also stressed the need for accelerating other critical development projects supported by the central government in the state.
He pointed out that issues related to land acquisition for important railway projects, such as Chandigarh-Baddi and Bhanupalli-Bilaspur, should be resolved promptly. Additionally, he called for faster progress on critical care blocks and public health laboratories being developed with central government assistance.
“Himachal’s development projects should not face delays. The central government is committed to supporting the state’s growth, and we expect the state government to prioritize these projects and take necessary actions for their timely completion,” Nadda concluded. He reaffirmed the central government’s dedication to strengthening medical education, healthcare services, and infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh, stating, “Our priority is clear: the development of Himachal and the welfare of every family in the state.”
