Shimla, Feb 24 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Health Minister Kaul Singh on Wednesday said the two new government medical colleges in Chamba and Nahan towns may start functioning from this academic session in July.
"The state is in touch with the Medical Council of India. The buildings for both the medical colleges have been finalised. The classes may begin from this session," the minister told reporters here.
Regarding the third medical college at Hamirpur, he said it might take some time.
He said there is a shortage of 600 doctors in the state and to overcome that the government wanted to have more medical colleges.
"Out of 58 medical colleges sanctioned by the government of India, Himachal Pradesh is lucky enough to get three in one go. Even in case of the ESI Medical College (near Mandi town) that was constructed at a cost of Rs.600 crores by the central government, our talks are in final stage to take it over," he added.
Kaul Singh said the government has decided that 58 life-saving medicines would be given free of cost to people in the government hospitals.
