Job trainee doctors to be allowed to pursue PG courses: Sukhu
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the Health Department to allow job trainee doctors to pursue postgraduate (PG) courses. Presiding over a meeting of the Health Department here today, the Chief Minister said that doctors seeking permission to pursue super-speciality courses would also be granted permission, while the duration and amount of their bonds would be enhanced to ensure that they return to the state after completing their courses and continue to serve the people of Himachal Pradesh. This would ultimately benefit patients in the state.
Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was taking several steps to provide world-class healthcare facilities within the state and the initiatives were yielding positive results. He said that strengthening diagnostic facilities remained a key focus of the government. He directed all Government Medical Colleges to digitise end-to-end data relating to all MRI, CT scan, X-ray and ultrasound examinations being conducted in their respective Radiology Departments by 20th October. He said that adequate manpower would be provided by the state government for the purpose. He also directed all medical colleges to submit department-wise requirements of nurses and technicians so that the recruitment process could be expedited.
The Chief Minister said that the state government had constituted an expert committee to examine the proposal for establishing Centres of Excellence with specialised departments in all Government Medical Colleges of the state, including the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS), Chamiana. The Committee would identify two to four departments in each Government Medical College, including AIMSS Chamiana, that have the potential to be developed as Centres of Excellence. These specialised centres would be envisaged to provide advanced multidisciplinary treatment for complex, rare and critical diseases requiring specialised expertise, advanced technology and facilities beyond the scope of conventional departmental services.
Sh. Sukhu said that the state government was planning to send medical students on exposure visits to abroad so as to enable them to learn global best practices and gain valuable experience, which could subsequently be utilised for the benefit of patients in the state. He directed the concerned authorities to expedite the selection process for these exposure visits.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Secretary Health Ashish Singhamar, Director Medical Education Dr. Gopal Beri and Mission Director NHM Pradeep Kumar Thakur were present in the meeting. Principals of the Medical Colleges also participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
