The Himcare health scheme once again became a major point of confrontation in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, being held at Dharamshala on Friday. The health scheme launched by the previous BJP government triggered accusations between the ruling and opposition benches.
During Question Hour, after a heated exchange in the House, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu intervened to respond to a joint query raised by MLAs Vinod Kumar and Trilok Jamwal. He said that Himcare had failed to achieve the objective for which it had been introduced.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur also stepped in, accusing the government of failing to implement the scheme in its true letter and spirit.
The Chief Minister alleged that public funds had been misused under Himcare and that the government would ensure a comprehensive investigation.
He stated that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had initiated an audit of the expenditure made under the scheme.
He alleged that many private hospitals have benefitted disproportionately from the scheme, defeating the real purpose of the scheme.
Sukhu said that the poor and needy got treatment under the scheme, and it will be ensured that no eligible beneficiary will be denied benefits under the scheme.
However, he admitted that there had been some issues in releasing payments. He also said that medical superintendents and principals would be authorised to issue Himcare cards in case of emergency if the patient was unable to avail the scheme previously.
The Chief Minister said that Himcare was meant to help the poor, not to facilitate corruption. Sukhu informed that the government had so far paid private hospitals Rs 211 crore under Himcare, while Rs 110 crore was still pending.
In total, payments worth Rs 280 crore are to be made under the scheme, he added.
The Chief Minister said the government was spending Rs 250 crore to modernise health services. This includes the installation of advanced machines such as robotic surgery systems, MRI, and PET scan units.
He said the government would provide treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme only up to the limit of funds received from the Centre.
No additional expenditure would be borne by the state, he said, adding that the amount otherwise spent on Ayushman Bharat by the state would now be diverted to Himcare. Himachal has received only Rs 43 crore from the Centre under Ayushman Bharat, whereas the state has already spent up to Rs 110 crore on it, he informed.
Earlier, replying to the original question, Health Minister Col Dhani Ram Shandil said that no premium was charged from MGNREGA workers while issuing Himcare cards.
He added that MGNREGA workers who did not yet have active Himcare cards would be issued cards immediately.