CM Sukhu Announces Special Allowance for Super-Speciality Doctors in Himachal

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced that the state government will provide Non-Practicing Allowance (NPA) to super-speciality doctors as part of its efforts to strengthen healthcare services and improve the availability of specialist medical professionals across the state. The announcement was made during a review meeting of the Health Department held on Thursday evening.

Addressing officials during the meeting, Sukhu said the government remained committed to ensuring that residents have access to quality healthcare within the state itself. He stressed that there was no shortage of funds for modernising the healthcare sector and noted that several initiatives launched over the past three and a half years had started producing encouraging results. According to the chief minister, the state administration is focused on improving both healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.

The chief minister also highlighted the government's ongoing engagement with the medical community. He said multiple rounds of discussions had been held with doctors regarding reforms aimed at improving healthcare services. Sukhu added that he plans to personally visit various health institutions in the coming months to interact with medical professionals and gather feedback that could help shape future policy decisions and sectoral improvements.

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As part of the broader healthcare modernisation programme, the state government is working to strengthen all medical colleges through the recruitment of adequate staff and the installation of advanced medical equipment. Sukhu said efforts were being made to ensure that healthcare institutions in Himachal Pradesh are equipped with facilities comparable to those available at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. He noted that approximately Rs 3,000 crore is being invested in procuring modern medical machinery and equipment.

The government is also focusing on upgrading healthcare facilities in districts that do not have medical colleges. According to Sukhu, zonal and regional hospitals in such areas are being enhanced to provide better diagnosis, treatment and patient care services. The objective is to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to access specialised medical treatment and improve healthcare accessibility across the state.

In addition, recruitment drives are underway to address shortages of doctors, paramedical personnel and technicians in government health institutions. Sukhu said the introduction of robotic surgery in the state represents a significant achievement of the government's healthcare reforms, enabling patients to receive advanced treatment closer to home. The initiative is expected to reduce the financial burden on residents who previously had to travel outside Himachal Pradesh for specialised procedures, while further strengthening the state's healthcare ecosystem.

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