CM dedicates Rs.1.60 crore Fibro Scan Machine at IGMC Shimla

Shimla, May 19, 2017: Rs.1.60 crore Fibro-scan machine was made functional today at IGMC, Shimla where Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh dedicated the latest medical technology machine to the public. The machine will be able to scan the extent of liver damage without biopsy.

Later, addressing the Nurses on the concluding function of International Nursing Week celebrations, the Chief Minister announced that Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS) period of service of Nurses would be counted as period of contract service.

He said that the State government was committed to providing best medical facilities and health services to people of the State at grass-root level. He said efforts were being made to provide health facilities in rural areas at par with urban areas, as maximum population resides in villages.

The Chief Minister said opening of six medical colleges in the State will strengthen health services besides mitigating the shortage of doctors. The Government has also recruited adequate para-medical staff to ensure their availability at every health institution in the State. Health institutions were being equipped with latest medical equipments so that major diagnostic tests could be conducted in the hospital itself, he said.

Shri Virbhadra Singh announced Rs. 50,000 to Nursing Association for promoting cultural activities.

Health Minister Shri Kaul Singh Thakur said that health indicators of the state had been adjudged best in the country and the State Government had been making sustained efforts to further strengthen health infrastructure. He said installation of fibro-scan machine at IGMC will prove to be a mile-stone in diagnoses and treatment of liver diseases. Tests will be conducted on daily basis without waiting period for which the patients earlier had to go to PGIMER, Chandigarh.

He urged the Chief Minister to convert three years of RKS period of Nurses into contract service for regularization after four years. He said proposal to this effect will be brought to the Cabinet soon.

General Secretary, Nurses Association Ms. Kalpna Rechit put-forth the demands of nursing category. She said that international nursing week celebrations were a platform for discussing problems being faced by nurses in the field and challenges before them.

President of the Association Ms. Bhawna Thakur thanked the Chief Minister and Health Minister for fulfilling their long standing demands.

Irrigation and Public Health Minister Smt. Vidya Stokes, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Health) Shri Nand Lal, Vice Chairman HPTDC Shri Harish Janartha, Principal IGMC Dr. Ashok Sharma, Prof. and Head Gastroenterology Dr. Brij Sharma, Chairman, NGO Federation Sh. S.S. Jogta were also present on this occasion.