SHIMLA, JULY 18: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday announced that the Government Dental College, Shimla, will be renamed Rajiv Gandhi Dental College, Shimla, while also unveiling plans to establish a ₹300-crore Dental Health Research Centre in Hamirpur to strengthen dental healthcare and research in the state. The announcements were made while the Chief Minister addressed the fourth annual conference of the Himachal Pradesh State Chapter of the Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI) in Shimla. Sukhu said the proposed research centre in Hamirpur would not only generate employment opportunities but also provide advanced dental treatment and research facilities, benefiting patients across Himachal Pradesh. Highlighting the contribution of oral and maxillofacial surgeons, the Chief Minister said they play a crucial role in restoring not only the health but also the confidence and quality of life of patients. He expressed confidence that the conference would help promote better healthcare services in the state. Emphasising the government's focus on modernising healthcare, Sukhu said Himachal's public health institutions have made significant progress in recent years with the introduction of advanced technologies such as robotic surgery and 3-Tesla MRI facilities. He said the government is working to extend similar modern medical infrastructure to all medical colleges and district hospitals, enabling people to access quality treatment closer to their homes without travelling outside the state. The Chief Minister said the government had already held extensive consultations with medical professionals to strengthen healthcare services and would soon organise a similar interaction with dental practitioners to improve dental education and patient care in the state. He also lauded doctors trained in Shimla, saying they were serving with distinction across India and abroad and contributing to healthcare through the adoption of modern medical technologies.
