Shimla, May 2 — Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated six indoor patient departments (IPDs) at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties in Chamiyana, Shimla district. During the inauguration, Sukhu announced that his government would allocate Rs 200 crore this year for the installation of advanced medical equipment and technologies across the state’s healthcare institutions.
Sukhu emphasized the importance of modernizing the state’s medical infrastructure, stating, “This hospital will be equipped with high-end medical technology. We will soon start robotic surgery, a first of its kind in the state, at this hospital, and at the Tanda Medical College as well.” He added that the latest MRI machine had been approved for installation at the facility.
The Chief Minister also revealed that advanced MRI machines had been approved for medical colleges in Tanda, Hamirpur, and Nerchowk. He further addressed the ongoing development of the Chamiyana hospital, noting, “Although construction has been underway for some time, my government has decided to complete the remaining work and has sanctioned Rs 23 crore for this purpose.”
With a capacity of 337 beds, the hospital is equipped with modern operating theatres and a cath lab. Sukhu assured that while the hospital had recently begun operations, it would be fully functional within the next six months.
At the event, Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, Secretary (Health) M. Sudha Devi, and AIMSS Principal Dr. Brij Sharma were present. The hospital, inaugurated in September 2022, faced delays in fully operationalizing its super speciality departments due to infrastructure issues, including the lack of an approach road and proper transport facilities.
In the past year, the outpatient departments (OPDs) of eight super-specialty departments, including urology, cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, plastic surgery, gastroenterology, neurology, and CVTS, were transferred to Chamiyana. The IPDs for gastroenterology, neurology, endocrinology, nephrology, urology, and plastic surgery have now also been shifted. By July, services for cardiology and cardiothoracic and vascular surgery (CTVS) will also be moved to the facility.
Despite the progress, staff shortages—especially senior residents and nurses—remain a significant challenge in fully operationalizing the IPDs. Dr. Sudhir Sharma, the hospital’s medical superintendent, explained, “We are exploring rented accommodations nearby and are considering adding another floor to provide housing for doctors and nurses.”
Local resident Kuldeep Tanwar voiced concerns over the lack of transport facilities to the hospital, noting, “Taxi drivers charge up to Rs 500 to take patients from Bhattakuffar to the hospital, a mere 3 km away.”
The new developments at Chamiyana hospital are seen as a step toward improving healthcare accessibility and infrastructure in Shimla and surrounding areas. However, addressing logistical challenges such as transport and accommodation will be crucial for the hospital’s smooth operation in the coming months.
