Himachal Govt Initiates IGMC Patient Data Digitisation Pilot

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu issued the directive during a recent review meeting, instructing officials to roll out the initiative at the state’s premier medical institution before extending it to other hospitals.

The Himachal Pradesh government has directed the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla to begin digitising patient records on a pilot basis, aiming to improve access to medical data and hospital efficiency.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu issued the directive during a recent review meeting, instructing officials to roll out the initiative at the state’s premier medical institution before extending it to other hospitals.

The decision is part of a broader push to modernise healthcare systems in the state. Currently, most patient records at IGMC are maintained manually, which often leads to delays in retrieving medical histories, duplication of tests, and administrative inefficiencies.

Officials have been asked to prepare a structured implementation plan for the pilot project. This includes creating electronic health records, integrating hospital departments, and training staff to handle digital systems. The system will store patient details such as diagnosis, prescriptions, lab reports, and treatment history in a centralised format.

In addition to digitisation, CM Sukhu directed officials to formulate a nutrition policy for the state before May 31 this year. “Himachal is set to become the first state in the country to formulate such a comprehensive policy,” said the Himachal CM.

He also outlined plans to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, stating that the government intends to allocate ₹3,000 crore for high-end machines and equipment to improve medical services across the state.

The pilot will also help identify challenges in shifting from paper-based systems to digital platforms, including infrastructure gaps, data security concerns, and the need for technical training. Based on the findings, the model may be refined before being introduced in other government healthcare facilities.

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