Himachal CM Announces INR 3000 Cr for Healthtech Upgrade, Inaugurates Nuclear Medicine Block at IGMC

The facility introduces PET scan services, which are expected to improve access to specialized diagnostic services

In a move to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has announced plans to invest INR 3,000 crore in upgrading healthcare technology.

The announcement was made during the recent inauguration of the Nuclear Medicine Block at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla.

The newly inaugurated facility marks a major development in the state’s broader healthcare modernization push.

The facility introduces Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan services, which are expected to improve access to specialized diagnostic services in the state without requiring the patients to travel outside Himachal Pradesh.

Sharing his thoughts on the new facility, the CM said, “This is the first facility of its kind in the government sector of the state and represents a major step toward strengthening specialised healthcare services.”

He also noted the PET scan facility is designed to enable early detection of diseases at the metabolic and molecular levels.

Unlike conventional imaging modalities such as CT and MRI, which identify structural changes at later stages, PET technology detects physiological alterations much earlier, he informed.

Commenting on the significance of the facility, CM Sukhu said, “The facility would play a vital role in the staging and restaging of cancers, evaluation of treatment response, detection of recurrence and prognostication.

“It is widely used in the diagnosis and management of various malignancies, including brain tumours, head and neck cancers, thyroid carcinoma, lung carcinoma, pleural malignancies, thymic tumours, esophagogastric carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), breast carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, as well as urological and testicular malignancies,” he added.

He further said, “In addition to oncology, PET scans are increasingly being utilised in cardiology and neurology, as well as in the assessment of infections and inflammatory diseases, particularly in cases where conventional imaging proves inconclusive.”

Reaffirming the state’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure, Sukhu said, “The present state government remains committed to introducing high-end technologies in the health sector. In the coming times, we will invest over INR 3,000 crore to upgrade technology across all medical colleges and other health institutions in the state, with the aim of providing affordable, world-class healthcare services at the doorstep of the people.”

As part of the same initiative, the CM also announced additional investment in advancing diagnostic capabilities, including the installation of SPECT-CT worth INR 8 Crore at IGMC hospital.

Earlier in March 2026, the CM also inaugurated an advanced 3 Tesla MRI machine at IGMU in Shimla to enhance diagnostic services across the state.

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