SHIMLA, Nov 12: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced an additional allocation of Rs 18 crore to strengthen dental healthcare infrastructure across the state, with a focus on modernising facilities, upgrading equipment and improving patient care.
The announcement came during a meeting with dental doctors, where the Chief Minister reviewed measures to enhance dental services and address infrastructure-related requirements. He said the government had already released Rs 5.10 crore under the first phase of the initiative.
According to an official statement, the Rajiv Gandhi Government Dental College in Shimla will receive advanced medical equipment, including high-end dental chairs, Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) machines, intraoral scanners and modern operation tables.
Sukhu said the introduction of advanced technology would improve the efficiency of dental professionals while enabling more accurate diagnosis and better treatment outcomes.
He also assured the dental fraternity that adequate paramedical personnel would be deployed to support doctors and ensure the smooth functioning of healthcare facilities. Strengthening radiology services through modern equipment was another priority highlighted during the meeting.
The Chief Minister further informed that a state-of-the-art dental college and centre of excellence is being established in Hamirpur at an estimated investment of Rs 600 crore. The project is expected to provide advanced dental education, specialised treatment and improved healthcare facilities.
The government is also examining the feasibility of developing a new campus for the dental college at Chamiyana near Shimla to expand its infrastructure and strengthen academic facilities.
Addressing the professional concerns of dental faculty, Sukhu said a senior residency policy would be introduced in dental colleges. Under the proposed arrangement, lecturers would be promoted to assistant professors, creating better opportunities for career advancement and strengthening academic as well as clinical services.
He also announced measures to improve emergency dental care, including the availability of an anaesthesiologist at the Shimla dental college and the installation of dental chairs at trauma centres to facilitate prompt treatment for patients requiring urgent attention.
The Chief Minister said the government was also considering providing a non-practising allowance to dentists. He encouraged dental professionals to make effective use of modern technology and upgraded facilities to improve the overall standard of oral healthcare in Himachal Pradesh.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said technological improvements would be extended to both medical and dental colleges. He emphasised that infrastructure modernisation was essential to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring better services for patients across the state.
The initiatives reflect the state government’s broader efforts to strengthen specialised healthcare services, improve working conditions for medical professionals and expand access to modern dental treatment.