Dr. Rajeev Bindal, Health & Ayurveda Minister said that 131 posts of Professor, Assistant Professor and Associate Professors etc. and 657 of para-medical staff were filled up in IGMC, Shimla during the last two and half years which resulted that the number of outdoor patients which were 2,91,487 in 2007 increased to 4,13,175 in IGMC and got treatment. He said that similarly the number of indoor patients also increased from 29,246 to 40,432 during the period.

Presiding over the review meeting of Medical Education and Research Departments here today, Dr. Bindal said that the increase in number of patients was also recorded from 10 to 50 percent in X-Ray, C.T. scan, Ultra sound, ECG, Delivery, Caesarian, MRI, Lab tests, major and minor operations. He said that State Government was providing better health care services to the people of the State and added that people have their faith in government hospitals and that is why the patients were coming up for treatment in large number in such health institutions of the State. He also expressed his satisfaction over the working of IGMC, Shimla and Tanda Medical College of short span of two and a half years and added that unprecedented progress was witnessed of both the health institutions.

He said that MBBS seats in IGMC, Shimla had been increased to 100 from 35 and post-graduate seats from 38 to 70 during the period. He said that superspeciality services in gastro-antrology had also been introduced and added that new departments of Immune Haometology and blood transfusion were also opened. He told that two trauma/emergency operation theatre were made and emergency CCU also created in IGMC, Shimla. He said that similarly FACO key machine and advance echo cardiography system installed in IGMC.

He said that similarly in Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda the functional bedded capacity had also been increased from 292 to 547, post-



graduate classes also started and MRI, Eco-cardiology, Nicko and Picko services introduced in the institution.

He said that 348 posts of various categories of teaching staff and 563 of nursing etc. were also filled up during the period which resulted in increase of OPD patients from 1,78,500 to 2,74,585 in Tanda Medical College. He said that 50 to 100 percent increase was also recorded in indoor, X-Ray, CT Scan, ultrasound, ECG, delivery, Caesarian, MRI, Lab test, major and minor operations which was evident from the fact that the best health care facilities were being provided to the people by the present Government headed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister out of which the people of the State were immensely benefitting.

He said that Eye Bank was for the first time introduced in H.P. and B.Sc. nursing in IGMC, Shimla would also start this year. He said that for treatment of cancer a new Cobalt unit would start functioning this year in Tanda college. He said that matter had also been sent to Central Government for increasing 32 MD/MS seats and 50 seats of MBBS in Tanda Medical College so that it could be made best health institute in North India.

Shri P.C. Dhiman, Principal Secretary, Health, Dr. Vinod Pathak, Director, Health Services and senior Medical Officers of IGMC and Tanda Medical Colleges were also present in the meeting among others.