Shimla, March 6 || Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday inaugurated a robotic surgery facility at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College in Nerchowk in Mandi district.
The facility, established with an outlay of Rs 28.44 crore, marked another step in strengthening advanced healthcare services in the state.
After Atal Super Speciality Hospital in Chamiyana in Shimla and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda in Kangra district, Lal Bahadur Shastri hospital has now become the third medical institution in the state to offer robotic surgery.
The Chief Minister also observed the first surgery performed using the new system.
CM Sukhu said robotic surgery services would soon be introduced at Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla and Hamirpur Medical College.
He said 151 surgeries have been performed through robotic systems in Chamiyana and 92 at Tanda Medical College with encouraging outcomes.
The Chief Minister said the government has been working to introduce high-end medical technology in all medical colleges at a level comparable to AIIMS Delhi.
The aim, he said, is to ensure that medical colleges in the state do not remain merely referral institutions.
Doctors will also be sent on exposure visits to gain better knowledge and training in modern medical technologies.