Himachal CM opens new OPD building at IGMC-Shimla

Shimla, January 11

Himachal is now far better equipped to deal with the Covid pandemic than before. There are 41 oxygen plants at present as compared to only two during the first wave of the pandemic, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here today after inaugurating the new OPD building of the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital.

He said the OPD building had been constructed at a cost Rs 103.18 crore, and the state government had provided Rs 73 crore for it. “Originally, the building was to be constructed at a cost of Rs 46 crore but the government revised the estimate to Rs 103 crore so that a much bigger building could be constructed to meet future needs.”

He said that a trauma centre was also being constructed at a cost of Rs 40 crore and a parking at a cost of Rs 32 crore under the Smart City Project. He added that keeping in view the rush of patients in the hospital, the need for better infrastructure was felt.

“There were only 50 ventilators in the state at the time of the first wave and now there are more than 1,000 ventilators. This has been made possible due to the focused approach of the state government,” he claimed.

Thakur said that the government not only created better infrastructure but also ensured that poor people get free treatment in case of serious illness. He added that over Rs 200 crore had been spent under the Mukhya Mantri HIMCARE and Rs 3,000 per month was being provided under the Mukhya Mantri Sahara Yojana to families having a chronically ill patient.

Health Minister Rajiv Saizal said that the new OPD would go a long way in providing better health services to patients, particularly during the pandemic.