Health Services in Himachal :

No society, big or small, traditional or modern can develop its socio-economic conditions without a complete health care facilities. It is a saying that health is wealth, if health is lost then everything is lost, A healthy mind can change the rough situations in a proper direction. The progress of a country is also measured by the state of health care facilities provided and their satisfaction thereof. A man who is mentally sound and physically fit, can lead a happy life and can work properly for the growth of his family, society and nation, without any mental tension or fear.

Himachal Pradesh is a small state of Indian Union with varied climatic conditions, from Arctic to Sub-tropical and Monsoon type, with heavy snowfall on Greater Himalayas to humid and sultary in Shiwalik Range. Due to these geographical factors, health diseases and nutritious all varied from area to area. In Himachal Pradesh there is lack of facilities for the improvement of environment, rehabilitation, communicable diseases, health education, maturity and child care and family welfare. All were in a bad shape before 1948. In 1951-52 there were just 19 hospitals and 85 doctors in whole state. There were lack of specialised facilities in health institutions. Both death and birth rate was very high. Hospitals were far away from the villages and were unapproachable for common masses, even people were ignorant about the new methods of treatment which were somehow existing in some hospitals.

Thus,due to the above problems related with the health service administration of the state, the public health was in a pitiable conditions but after the creation of Himachal, in 1948 and implementation of the provisions of Indian Constitution, State Government with the help of Central Government is doing better development in the field of Public Health. Now there is need of mobilisation of resources and proper utilization of existing know how in this field.

Growth of Health Services in Himachal Pradesh :

The Himachal Pradesh Government has done a splendid job in the field of health services to provide basic health and medical care facilities to every individual in the state at the nearest possible place. To some extent these services have been reached in each village of the Pradesh. The condition in 1948 was very critical, he further remarks that health services were in a skeleton position, but with the new programmes and proper policies of the state Government specially after 1971 the conditions have been improved to a certain extent. However there is better development of health services institutions in state to provide basic facilities in this field.

State of health services institutions in Himachal :

 There is a remarkable growth of health institutions in 1995-96 and also in the number of hospitals beds, which were increased to 9525, beds available in the health institutions of the state. The State Government has created three zonal hospitals at Mandi, Shimla and Kangra, This step was taken by the State Government to reduce the crowd of Indira Gandhi Medical College (Snowdon) (IGMC) and secondly to provide approachable and nearby services.

Besides, these three zonal hospitals,  there are 11 district hospitals, 39 civil hospitals,219 Public Health Centres and 291 Community Health Centre l 7 Referral Hospitals, 116 Dispensaries, and 1855 Sub-Centres. In all there are about 3000 Medical Institutions in the state. The number of doctors has increased 100 fold, the scene on the health front has changed beyond recognition.

There is better and proper growth of health services institutions in the state to some extent. It is not enough but there are also some other institutions working for the eradication of complicated diseases from the state. There are two T.B. Treatment Hospitals, 12 Treatment Centres, 6 T.B. Treatment sub centres, 53 Dental Centres, 8 Leprosy Care and Control Centres,76 Leprosy Control Centres, 46 Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, 89 Family Planning Centres, 71 Female Diseases Care Centres., 106  X-ray Centres.

                             Public Health has been incorporated in State list of Indian Constitution. So, state Governments have kept responsible for the eradication of diseases and improvement of health conditions of the public. Thus, there is appropriate provisions in the constitution for the betterment of health services in India. The basic responsibilities for fulfilling this obligation rests with State Governments. Accordingly, the State Governments are responsible for extension of Public health facilities and administration of hospitals and dispensaries established with its jurisdiction.

There is proper arrangement in the state for curing different type of diseases to some extent. It is only for establishing a diseases less state in India, but the State Government has to strengthen its sincere efforts in this direction.