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 have been increased 65 to 100. 2550 number of under- graduates has passed out from this Medical College till 2010.

The post Graduate courses were started in 16 disciplines in the year 1981. So far 595 postgraduates 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 81 and 13 in diploma courses. DNB in Cardiology and MCH in CTVS have 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 Center by the Govt. of India, thus providing much needed comprehensive cancer care to the cancer patient. Essential periodical up gradation of facilities for investigations and treatment have been going on regularly and in the year 2005 facility of Open Heart Surgery has been made operational and in 2006 MRI facility has been added. Soon second Cobalt Unit & 64 slice MDCT will be made operational.