Shimla, Oct. 18 -- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday set a target of increasing doctor availability in government medical colleges to 80-85 per cent by next year, while highlighting a significant expansion in postgraduate medical education, with seats across six government medical colleges rising from 277 to 597.

He stated this while replying to media queries, on the sidelines of inauguration of Blocks 1 and 2 of Phase IV of the Armsdale Building at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat in Shimla.

Sukhu said infrastructure expansion was essential for development and the government was according priority to strengthening public institutions.

Around Rs 9 crore has been spent on the construction of the new Secretar...