Shimla, Sept 9,
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the formation of a cabinet subcommittee to investigate allegations of fund misuse by private hospitals. Responding to a query raised by BJP MLAs Sudhir Sharma, Rakesh Jamwal, Randhir Sharma, and Inder Gandhi, Sukhu revealed that the previous BJP government had allowed employees to benefit from the Himcare scheme without receiving their DA installments.
Sukhu highlighted irregularities in billing practices, citing instances where private hospitals charged exorbitant amounts for simple procedures. He mentioned that the number of private hospitals in the state had increased significantly under the previous government, leading to a surge in government expenditure.
The Chief Minister accused the previous government of favoring private hospitals over government institutions, resulting in a decline in the quality of services provided by the latter. He announced plans to recruit 200 new doctors to strengthen the IGMC and Tanda medical colleges and avoid outsourcing medical staff.
Sukhu also addressed irregularities in the Ayushman Bharat scheme, stating that the government had to suspend the scheme in private hospitals due to pending bills worth Rs. 355 crore. To ensure that people have access to basic healthcare services, the government released Rs. 60 crore to government hospitals.
Regarding the SAHARA Yojana, Sukhu said that the government would investigate allegations of misuse and ensure that only those who genuinely need assistance receive the benefits. He clarified that no scheme was launched under his name and that the “Happiness” scheme was not named after him.
Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil explained that the Himcare beneficiary selection process had been revised and that the government would investigate any involvement of private hospital board of directors. He also mentioned that the scheme had been suspended in private hospitals, except for dialysis services, due to audit challenges.
The cabinet subcommittee is expected to recommend measures to improve the Himcare scheme and address the issues raised by the MLAs.
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