Recognizing that a society’s progress is rooted in the strength of its education and healthcare systems, the Himachal Pradesh government has prioritized the modernization of healthcare as a core agenda. Over the past two and a half years, the state has launched several initiatives aimed at providing accessible, high-quality medical services from urban centers to remote Himalayan villages.
A government spokesperson on Sunday highlighted that Himachal Pradesh now offers doorstep healthcare through a network of 2,926 government health institutions. These include six medical colleges, three zonal hospitals, nine regional hospitals, 92 civil hospitals, 107 community health centers (CHCs), 585 primary health centers (PHCs), and 2,116 sub-health centers.
To expand capacity, the state has upgraded several facilities. The Civil Hospital in Kaza (Lahaul-Spiti) has grown from 20 to 50 beds, and hospitals in Sujanpur (Hamirpur), Sunni (Shimla), and Haroli (Una) have been expanded to 100 beds. ESIC Hospital in Gagret (Una) has also been converted into a Civil Hospital.
New infrastructure has been established across districts, including block medical offices in Baddi (Solan), Jai Singhpur, and Dehra (Kangra), as well as new PHCs and sub-health centers in Sirmaur and Solan. Between January 2023 and December 2024, the Health Department served over 3.27 crore outpatient (OPD) and 37.5 lakh inpatient (IPD) cases.
To ensure equitable access to specialist care, the government is developing one model health institution in each of the 68 Assembly constituencies—with two in Lahaul-Spiti—bringing the total to 69. These centers will offer 134 diagnostic tests and house six medical specialists. Facilities will include ultrasound, digital X-ray, and, in phases, CT and MRI machines.
Recruitment efforts have intensified with 185 Medical Officers, 130 Staff Nurses, and other critical healthcare personnel hired. Additionally, 491 new posts have been created. The 2025–26 budget allocates ₹1,730 crore for modern medical equipment, with plans to introduce dialysis services in all model institutions and set up blood storage units in 11.
Initiatives like the Mukhyamantri Vridhjan Dekhbhal Yojana, providing home-based care for the elderly, and the introduction of PET scans at IGMC Shimla and AIIMS Chamiyana, are positioning Himachal Pradesh as a future hub of healthcare excellence and medical tourism.