New Delhi: Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur called on Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and requested him to open a Cancer Hospital at Mandi.

Health Minister apprised union minister that Mandi being a central part of the State that will facilitate large number of Himachali. He said that the Union Minister had agreed in principle to this demand.

Kaul Singh apprised the Union Health Minister that the construction works of Super Specialty Block at Dr. Rajendera Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda in Kangra District was nearing completion. He requested to provide modern medical equipments for providing the super specialty facilities in the hospital.

He said that Ghulam Nabi Azad has passed necessary directions to the authorities to provide these medical equipments to Dr. RPGMC, Tanda. He said that Union Minister has also agreed to inaugurate the Super Specialty Block in near future.

Kaul Singh Thakur also urged the Azad to give approval for increasing the number of MBBS seats at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla from150 to 100 from the next academic session adding that this demand of the State Government was pending with Government of India.

Health Minister requested the Union Minister to provide more financial assistance under Pradhan Mantri Sarv Swasthya Yojana to IGMC, Shimla. He said that a grant of Rs. 140 crore had already been provided under the scheme to IGMC.