Shimla: Medical students in Himachal Pradesh will now get the chance to train abroad. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Monday that students will be part of an exchange with the University of Illinois in the United States.
The announcement followed a meeting with a delegation from the university's Board of Trustees led by Manuraj Sood.
"This would help students learn about the latest technologies and teaching methods used by the university. Medical teachers from the state would also be sent on exposure visits," Sukhu said.
Faculty exchange programmes will support specialised training, teaching, research and professional development, he said.
The Memorandum of Agreement signed earlier with the university will be implemented effectively, the Chief Minister said. Both sides will exchange academic resources, research publications, teaching materials and technical knowledge.
Sukhu said the state is adopting world-class medical technologies and equipment, and that the government wants research in medical education, stronger telemedicine services and greater use of advanced cancer treatment technology.
"Food and nutrition were among the most important factors for a healthy life. Keeping this in view, the state government was promoting natural farming so that people could get chemical-free food," he said.
The government has not said when the exchange begins or how many students will go in the first batch.
Himachal's medical colleges have long faced complaints about infrastructure and faculty shortages. Whether an overseas exchange changes that on the ground is a question the first batch will answer.
The announcement did not say who bears the cost of travel, or how students will be selected for the first batch.