Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India]: In a significant boost to the state’s healthcare infrastructure, the Himachal Pradesh Government has approved a ₹193.75 crore investment to establish two Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) and five District Integrated Public Health Laboratories (DIPHLs), as announced in a recent cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
🏗️ Two 50-Bed Critical Care Blocks in Bilaspur and Rohru
According to the official statement, the government will set up:
- A 50-bedded CCB at Primary Health Centre Swahan (Regional Hospital Bilaspur)
- A 50-bedded CCB at Civil Hospital Rohru in Shimla district
Each CCB will include:
- Emergency services
- ICUs, HDUs, and Isolation Beds
- Dialysis units, Labour rooms, and Operation Theatres
- Point-of-Care Laboratories
Each block will cost ₹16.63 crore in construction and ₹27.12 crore in medical equipment. These blocks will function as regular units under normal conditions but can be swiftly isolated during health emergencies like pandemics.
🧪 Five District Integrated Public Health Labs (DIPHLs)
The Cabinet also greenlit the establishment of DIPHLs at:
- Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Government Medical College, Chamba
- District Hospital Hamirpur, affiliated with Dr. Radha Krishnan Govt. Medical College
These state-of-the-art labs will offer services in:
- Clinical Pathology
- Haematology
- Cytology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
Each lab will have a skilled team:
- 1 Pathologist, 1 Microbiologist, 1 Biochemist
- 11 Lab Technicians
- 1 Data Entry Operator, 2 Sanitation Workers
Capital cost per DIPHL: ₹21.25 crore
Annual recurring cost: ₹49.05 lakh
👩🍼 Equipment Procurement for Mother and Child Hospitals
The cabinet also approved equipment procurement for under-construction Mother and Child Hospital wings at:
- Kamla Nehru Hospital, Shimla
- Regional Hospital, Una
- Civil Hospital, Sundernagar (Mandi district)
These steps are part of the state’s broader vision to ensure quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare for every citizen.