Shimla’s IGMC shifts gastro, urology among three more services to Chamyana Atal Super-Specialty hospital

Shimla:
In a significant healthcare development, the gastroenterology, urology and plastic surgery departments of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) have now been fully relocated to the Atal Super Specialty Institute in Chamyana.

From Thursday (May 1, 2025) onward, patients will receive IPD, operation theatre and lab services at the new facility itself, eliminating the need to shuttle between locations for treatment.

The decision marks a major step in decentralising and expanding high-end medical services beyond the IGMC main campus.

CM Sukhu inspects Chamyana facility, promises full functionality in six months

Chief Minister Sukhu, accompanied by Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil, Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh and other officials, visited the Chamyana facility on Thursday to inspect the upgraded health services.

CM Sukhu announced that the Chamyana hospital now housed 337 beds and featured modern operation theatres.

He said all necessary services would be made fully operational at the institute over the next six months, reinforcing the government’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare at par with national standards.

OPD, inpatient services now under one roof

Until now, the OPDs of these departments had been functioning in Chamyana while inpatients were admitted at IGMC, causing significant inconvenience to patients and their families.

With the complete shift, both outpatient and inpatient services were now available at Chamyana, providing relief from logistical challenges and reducing patient movement.

Each of the three departments — gastroenterology, urology and plastic surgery — has been allocated 20-bed wards and surgeries will now be conducted daily in the new operation theatres.
These departments cater to a range of complex conditions:
Gastroenterology: Treatment for gastrointestinal inflammation, ulcers, bowel disorders and severe digestive issues.
Urology: Kidney stones, urinary tract obstructions, prostate issues and congenital urinary abnormalities.
Plastic surgery: Management of burns, traumatic injuries, congenital deformities and reconstructive procedures.

Chamyana now hosts six super-specialty departments

With the addition of gastroenterology, urology and plastic surgery, the Atal Super-Specialty Institute in Chamyana now operates a total of six high-end medical departments, including neurology, nephrology and endocrinology.

This transformation positions Chamyana as a rising hub for specialised healthcare in Himachal Pradesh.
For patient accessibility, the hospital has arranged tempo traveller services every hour from Dhalli Tunnel to Chamyana. However, emergency services will continue to be available at IGMC for now as Chamyana does not yet have emergency care operational.

S Gopal Puri