Himachal  Pradesh Medical  College at Shimla (HPMC) was  established in  the year  1966 with admissions of  50 students in  the  first batch. Indira Gandhi Medical College is affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. With the  establishment of Medical College in the State, the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state were met with the standards of health services going on and students  benefiting with the advantage of staying home and getting better educational avenues. Medical College then had a modest beginning with makeshift arrangements for  hostels etc., but  ecstasy of joining the Medical  College located in  Shimla with its salubrious climate, took away the agony.

Himachal Pradesh  Medical College was renamed Indira Gandhi Medical College ( now  popularly known as  IGMC  in  abbreviated  form) in  1984. Admission facility  was increased to 65 in  the year 1978. Now MBBS seats has been increased 65 to 100. 2550 number of under- graduates have passed out from this Medical College till 2010.

The post  Graduate courses  were started  in 16  disciplines in  the year 1981. So  far  595 post  graduates and  270 in  diploma  courses  have passed out  from IGMC till date. More  PG  courses have been  added from  the session 2002-2005  in the  specialties of  Radiotherapy (Oncology)  and Skin & VD. Total number of PG Degree seats are and in diploma courses. DNB in Cardiology and MCH in CTVS has been started by IGMC. 78 B.Sc Paramedical students have passed out till 2010.

Efforts are on  to  introduce PG courses in  the disciplines  of  Psychiatry and Pulmonary Medicine.
50% seats are  available at  IGMC  through  all India  Quota from 2005 onwards.15% seats  in M.B.B.S. course are available to all  India Quota and  2 seats are available to NRI candidates.

Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla has also been granted the status of Regional Cancer Centre by  the  Govt. of India,  thus providing  much needed  comprehensive  cancer  care to  the  cancer patient. Essential periodical upgradation of facilities for investigations and treatment have been going on regularly and in the year 2005 facility of Open Heart Surgery has been made operationla and in 2006 MRI facility has been added.Soon second Cobalt Unit & 64 slice MDCT will be made operational.