Shimla: Himachal Pradesh has initiated steps to introduce robotic surgery in government-run health institutions, starting with the recruitment of trained specialists. The state government is preparing recruitment rules for robotic surgeons, which will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval, officials confirmed on Saturday.
The state aims to build a skilled workforce capable of performing and teaching robotic surgical techniques. According to officials, the specialists hired under this initiative will not only carry out surgeries but also help train other doctors in operating robotic systems. This dual role is seen as a move to build institutional capacity for advanced medical procedures within the public healthcare system.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who reviewed the project in a meeting with the Health Department, said the robotic surgical systems will first be installed at key government medical colleges, including:
Atal Institute of Medical Super-Speciality, Chamiyana
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda
Hamirpur Medical College
Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla
The Atal Institute is expected to serve as a central hub for robotic surgery and is being equipped with infrastructure that matches national medical standards, though officials did not mention specific timelines for the rollout.
Beyond the robotic surgery project, the Chief Minister also directed the Health Department to continue upgrading medical equipment and adopt modern technology across all government medical colleges and health facilities. This push is part of a broader plan to improve access to specialised healthcare services within the state. The recruitment and implementation strategy is currently awaiting Cabinet clearance. Once approved, the government plans to proceed with installing robotic surgery systems and beginning specialist training programmes.
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