Toward a ‘Fit Himachal’: CM Sets Deadline for Nutrition Policy and Pushes Health Reforms

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the Health Department to finalize a comprehensive Nutrition Policy by May 31, underscoring the state government’s commitment to building a healthier Himachal Pradesh. He was chairing a review meeting of senior Health Department officials on Tuesday evening.

Emphasizing the need for better public awareness, the Chief Minister said people must be educated about the nutritional value of food to realize the vision of a “Fit Himachal.” He noted that Himachal Pradesh is poised to become the first state in the country to introduce such a detailed and inclusive nutrition policy.

Alongside nutrition, CM Sukhu laid strong emphasis on digitization in the Health Department to improve service delivery. He instructed officials to ensure that patient records are made available online, enabling faster and hassle-free access to healthcare services. With this system in place, patients would no longer need to carry paper registration slips or medical test reports.

To begin with, the Chief Minister announced a pilot project at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), where patient data will be digitized in five departments—Pathology, Radiology, Mycology, Biochemistry and Pharmacy. He assured that adequate manpower would be provided for smooth implementation and said that, once successful, the initiative would be expanded to all departments at IGMC and later to other medical colleges across the state.

Reiterating the government’s long-term vision, CM Sukhu said the state is committed to providing world-class healthcare facilities within Himachal Pradesh itself. He informed that plans are underway to invest ₹3,000 crore in advanced medical machines and equipment to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, ₹75 crore has been sanctioned for setting up automated laboratories in three medical colleges.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the critical role of senior resident doctors in medical institutions, stating that the government is working to double their seats across all medical colleges to ensure efficient functioning and better patient care.

The meeting was attended by Chairman, State Food Commission S.P. Katyal, Secretary Ashish Singhmar, Special Secretaries Ashwani Kumar and Jitender Sanjta, along with other senior Health Department officials.