BJP’s flagship scheme ‘Himcare’ revamped: HP CM

Shimla: Under scrutiny for alleged irregularities and mismanagement, the Congress government has revamped Himcare, a flagship health insurance scheme introduced during the previous BJP government.

At a high-level meeting of the health department, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said he was not happy with the implementation of the Himcare scheme, which, instead of relief for the needy, has become a source of misuse of public funds meant for suffering humans.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister stressed the need for several qualitative improvements to be made to strengthen the Himcare Scheme. These reforms will ensure transparency in the scheme and help curb the possibility of corruption, he hoped

Under the Himcare Scheme, government hospitals will be paid the lower amount between the actual cost of treatment (including consumables) and the fixed package rate. Hospitals will be required to submit bills for the actual expenses along with their claims. Expenditures such as registration fees, bed charges, nursing, and boarding will not be included in such claims.

“In addition, fees for surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors, and consultants, as well as charges for anaesthesia, blood transfusions, oxygen, operating theatre use, surgical equipment, medicines, and patient meals, will not be part of these reimbursement claims,” a senior official of the health department briefed the media later after the meeting.

These expenses are borne separately under the Himcare Scheme and are also provided to government hospitals through budgetary allocations.

Earlier, funds for similar components were being provided through two different mechanisms. After this rationalisation, the funds allocated to government hospitals through the budget will no longer be included as part of the Himcare package claims. Instead, the government will continue to provide funds for these components directly through the budget.

Launched by the previous BJP government led by Jairam Thakur , controversy around Himachal Pradesh’s HIMCARE (health insurance) has been under the scanner for alleged financial irregularities, misuse, structural issues, and political disagreement.