More than 4.85 lakh people were treated under Himcare scheme in the last three years
BJP parliamentary constituency in-charge and former minister, MLA Sukhram Choudhary and state vice-president former minister Rajeev Sehjal said that it is unfortunate for the people of the state that Himachal’s biggest health benefit scheme, Himcare, has been closed by the government. This clearly shows the intention of the government that it wants to stop the public welfare scheme of the previous government.
In Himachal Pradesh, there are 278 hospitals registered under Himcare scheme. Under the Chief Minister Himcare Scheme, more than 4.85 lakh people have been treated in the last three years, till 15.11.2023, 78,365 new cards were also made under the Himcare Scheme. The government is trying to sabotage this scheme.
Poor patients in need of free treatment under the Himcare scheme have suffered a setback. IGMC, the state’s largest hospital, has stopped surgeries in most of the super specialty departments. The reason is that IGMC alone has outstanding of Rs 70 crore in Himcare. Therefore, the companies supplying medicines and goods are not ready to bear further loans. This is the reason why free surgeries have now been stopped in big departments like cardiology, cardiothoracic vascular surgery, surgery and ortho where medical devices like stunts etc. are used. Dues of more than Rs 300 crore are said to be in Himcare. The government is not making the payment even after making provisions in the budget.
Health Minister Colonel Dhaniram Shandil had said in the budget session of the Assembly that the pending payment would be made before March 31, but this payment was not made. The state government had made a provision of Rs 300 crore for Himcare in the budget of the new financial year.
