SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has proposed a major expansion of Postgraduate (PG) medical seats in state-run medical colleges, planning to increase the tally from 277 to 597. This marks the first time such a massive increase in PG seats has been proposed in a single phase.
The move is aimed at strengthening healthcare services and medical education in the state. It will provide more opportunities for local students to pursue postgraduate studies within Himachal Pradesh, help overcome the shortage of specialist doctors, and ensure better healthcare delivery for residents. Since PG doctors play a crucial role in patient treatment, medical education, and specialist care, the influx of students is expected to directly improve patient management at government medical colleges.
As per the official proposal, the seat distribution across various medical colleges will see a significant upward revision:
- IGMC Shimla: Seats to be increased from 139 to 230
- Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda: Seats to be increased from 99 to 156
- Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Mandi: Seats to be increased from 24 to 79
- Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur: Seats to be increased from 8 to 65
- Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Government Medical College, Nahan: Seats to be increased from 3 to 35
- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba: Seats to be increased from 4 to 32
To support this expansion, the state government has created 218 new posts for Senior Residents and Tutor Specialists over the last three years. This includes 63 posts at Hamirpur Medical College, 54 at Tanda Medical College, 36 at Mandi Medical College, 32 at Chamba Medical College, 31 at Nahan Medical College, and 2 posts at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities in Chamiana. The creation of these positions is intended to reinforce specialist services, promote PG medical education, and enhance patient treatment.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the current state government is focusing heavily on developing modern facilities and increasing specialist human resources in government medical colleges to upgrade medical education and healthcare delivery.
Chief Minister Sukhu emphasized that Senior Residents form the backbone of large hospitals and medical colleges. He stated that they play a vital role in patient care, medical education, research, and clinical training, while acting as a crucial link between teachers and medical students to keep hospital services running smoothly.
The Chief Minister added that the increase in PG seats will produce more specialist doctors to meet the growing healthcare needs of the state. He mentioned that the government is providing modern buildings, advanced diagnostic facilities, laboratories, and better teaching resources to ensure quality education and healthcare.
Reiterating that strengthening medical education and expanding training capacities for specialists remain top priorities, the Chief Minister said these steps will prevent residents from having to travel to other states for specialist treatment. The ultimate goal, he noted, is to develop Himachal Pradesh into an excellent hub for medical education and healthcare through continuous investment in infrastructure, human resources, and modern technology.
