Stipend Hike, Cap on Working Hours: Himachal CM announces new incentive policy for doctors
Shimla: In a major move to strengthen healthcare services and medical education, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu unveiled a comprehensive Incentive Policy for doctors. The announcement was made at the annual Stimulus-2025-26 function of the Central Students’ Union of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla.
The new policy links benefits for doctors to performance and other measurable parameters, aiming to improve healthcare delivery across the state.
Sukhu also announced a significant hike in monthly stipends for postgraduate resident doctors, effective from the upcoming state budget: Rs 50,000 in the first year, Rs 60,000 in the second, and Rs 65,000 in the third year.
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Additionally, working hours for resident doctors have been capped at 12 hours per shift, while senior resident stipends have been increased from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh, and super-specialty department stipends from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.30 lakh.
To enhance medical infrastructure, the government has planned Rs 5 crore for laparoscopic facilities and Rs 6 crore for the Department of Anaesthesia at IGMC. Sukhu directed authorities to expedite the land transfer for a new student hostel at IGMC and instructed the Principal to complete the process of shifting the gynaecology wing from Kamla Nehru Hospital to IGMC.
Emphasizing the government's vision of delivering world-class diagnostic services within the state, Sukhu said that five medical colleges would soon be equipped with advanced medical technology.
The Chief Minister also announced an allocation of Rs 5 crore each for developing bone marrow transplant infrastructure at six major medical institutions across the state: IGMC, AIMSS Chamiyana, Tanda Medical College, LBS Government Medical College Mandi, and Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College Hamirpur. He added that Rs 75 crore has been approved for smart labs at IGMC, Tanda Medical College, and the Super Specialty Hospital at Chamiana, Shimla.
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According to the Tribune India, he said that the government had decided to invest over Rs 3,000 crore to upgrade healthcare infrastructure and expand modern health services. “The government has also decided to replace medical equipment that has been in use for over two decades with modern and advanced machinery comparable to the standards of AIIMS, Delhi, and the PGI, Chandigarh,” he added.
To strengthen medical education, the government had increased the number of seats for training in B.Sc Medical Laboratory, Radiology and Imaging, Anaesthesia, and OT Technology from 10 to 50 at IGMC and from 18 to 50 at Tanda Medical College.
Over the past three years, the govt spent Rs 1,207 crore to strengthen medical education infrastructure, introduced postgraduate courses in Chamba, Hamirpur, and Nerchowk medical colleges, and established emergency departments in all medical colleges. A total of 57 casualty medical officers were directly recruited, and 32 specialist posts were created for emergency services, said Sukhu, reports TOI.
