The Centre today sanctioned Rs 14 crore for tertiary care cancer centre at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Shimla to enhance its capacity to treat patients in the state.
Union Health Ministry said the total cost of the project is around Rs 45 crore and this is the first installment for this "important" project in this region.
The grant-in-aid of Rs 14.87 crore has been released under the Tertiary Cancer Centre Scheme of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) 2015-16.
"This would help in significantly enhancing the capacity to treat cancer patients in Himachal Pradesh. It is part of our commitment to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh both quantitatively as well as qualitatively," said Union Health Minister J P Nadda.
The Centre has in principle agreed for a similar centre in Mandi district as well and the sanction of this project will be given after the state government submits its detailed project report to the Ministry.
Earlier, for upgradation and strengthening of trauma care facilities in government hospitals in the state, the Ministry had released grants of more than Rs 17 crore.
The grant was part of the centrally sponsored scheme of 'Capacity Development for Developing Trauma Care Facilities in Government Hospitals located on National Highways' under the Ministry.
The Ministry has taken several steps for strengthening public health infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh including approval of an AIIMS.
"Further process is underway to make it operational soon. The Health Ministry has also released the first installment for upgradation of two district hospitals in two medical colleges in Nahan and Hamirpur," an official statement said.
The level-1 Trauma facility for Shimla proposed by the state government is under consideration by the Centre while the process of procurement of health equipment worth Rs 32.78 crore for the Tanda Medical College is underway and nearing completion.
"The order shall be placed by end of December," it said.
