Himachal to rename medical university after Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee :

1. The BJP government in Himachal Pradesh introduced a bill in the Assembly proposing to rename an upcoming medical university after its leader and former Prime Minister, late Atal Behari Vajpayee.

2. The Himachal Pradesh University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Bill, 2019, is likely to be listed for debate in the 68-member House on Friday.

3. The state government has decided that the name of the Himachal Pradesh University of Health Sciences be renamed as the Atal Medical and Research University, Himachal Pradesh.

Other Medical Colleges in state :

Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla :

Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), formerly the Himachal Pradesh Medical College (HPMC), is a state-owned medical college and hospital in Shimla in the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It was established in 1966 as the Himachal Pradesh Medical College (HPMC), and assumed the present name in 1984. On 29 June 2013, Himachal Pradesh Health minister Kaul Singh Thakur said that Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) would be upgraded on the analogy of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Sewa Yojana, (PMSSY). 

Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College,Tanda :

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (DR.RPGMC) is state-owned medical college and hospital located in district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh.

History :

The history of this institution dates back to October 28th 1952 when the foundation stone of a TB sanatorium was laid by the Governor of Punjab. The TB sanatorium was inaugurated by Dr.Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India, on May 21st 1958.

The Govt. of Himachal Pradesh decided to open a second Medical College in northern part of the Pradesh and Tanda being the most suitable place in thickly populated district of the State with available land adequate for future expansion was selected. The foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Minister Sh. Virbhadra Singh on 23rd Oct. 1996.

First batch of 50 MBBS students was admitted in 1998. Since 2011, intake of MBBS students has increased to 100 seats.

A 500 bedded hospital and an auditorium with seating capacity of 700 hundred  were dedicated to the public by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Prof. P. K. Dhumal on 3rd Oct. 2008.

Postgraduate courses started with 5 seats in 3 specialties. By 2017, there were 81 MCI recognized/approved MD/MS courses.

H.P. Government Dental College & Hospital-Shimla :

The Himachal Pradesh Govt. Dental College & Hospital came in existence in the year 1994 with the intake capacity of 20 students per year to the BDS course so that better Dental Health Services may be provided to the people of the state. Thereafter the intake capacity was increased from 20 to 40 admissions and as such the training course for the 40 admission was started from the academic session 2003-2004. 

AIIMs Bilaspur :

The AIIMS in Bilaspur is proposed to be constructed in 205 acres provided by the state government.

Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for a Rs 3151-crore AIIMS project in Bilaspur aimed at bringing a qualitative change in the state’s health care infrastructure.