With BJP leader Jagat Prakash Nadda, who belongs to Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh, reassuming the Health Ministry in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, there is renewed optimism for the expedited completion of the long-delayed PGI satellite centre project at Malahat in Una district.
Nadda’s appointment is also expected to accelerate the progress of the incomplete AIIMS-Bilaspur and the establishment of three critical trauma centres across Himachal Pradesh.
Five years ago, as a Union Minister, Nadda laid the foundation stone for the proposed satellite PGI centre, estimated to cost Rs 480 crore and feature a 300-bed facility.
Despite initial assurances of a 40-month completion timeline, the project remains unfinished. The centre aims to house a regional research hub focused on diseases specific to the region, emphasising prevention and reducing the need for patients to travel to PGI m-Chandigarh for treatment.
With Nadda back at the helm of the Health Ministry, there is hope that the satellite centre project will see significant progress and be completed within a year. The project’s completion promises substantial healthcare benefits for the region, easing the burden on existing facilities and improving access to specialised medical care.
In addition to the satellite centre, the work on proposed trauma centres in four hospitals across Himachal Pradesh has been sluggish. Notably, the trauma centre at IGMC-Shimla has been inaugurated but remains non-operational due to delays in procuring necessary machinery and equipment. The Himachal High Court has expressed its displeasure over these delays, with the next hearing on the matter scheduled for June 19. Nadda’s reappointment brings hope for faster construction and operationalisation of these trauma centres, which are crucial for emergency medical care in the region.
Nadda’s portfolio also includes the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, promising relief for Himachal’s farmers who have faced fertiliser shortage. This additional responsibility underscores the strategic importance of Nadda’s role, both for the state and nationally.
Nadda’s reappointment is significant given his previous tenure as Union Health Minister from 2014 to 2019, during which he secured the establishment of AIIMS-Bilaspur, inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi before the last Lok Sabha elections. Nadda’s extensive experience as Health Minister at both the state and national levels is expected to bring considerable benefits to Himachal Pradesh’s healthcare infrastructure and services.
