Himcare Reforms Announced, But Pending Dues Since 2022- 23 Still Ignored
Shimla, April 9
Even as Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu rolled out a fresh set of “reforms” in the Himcare Scheme, questions are mounting over the government’s silence on long-pending reimbursements that have left beneficiaries and hospitals in the lurch since 2022.
Chairing a review meeting in Shimla, the Chief Minister spoke of “transparency” and “efficiency” in the scheme, announcing a new payment mechanism under which government hospitals will now be reimbursed the lower of the actual treatment cost or the fixed package rate.
Hospitals have been asked to submit detailed bills, excluding components such as registration, bed charges, nursing, boarding, and a host of medical expenses like doctors’ fees, anesthesia, blood transfusion, oxygen, OT charges, medicines, and even patient meals.
The government claims these exclusions will plug leakages and prevent duplication, arguing that such expenses are already covered through budgetary allocations.
The move effectively ends the earlier system where funds for similar components were routed through multiple channels.
But beneath the reform narrative lies a glaring omission.
There was no direction from the Chief Minister to clear the mounting backlog of pending payments under Himcare—dues that patients and service providers allege have been stuck for over four years.
Beneficiaries who paid out of pocket, expecting reimbursement, continue to wait, while hospitals complain of financial strain due to delayed settlements.
With around 4.33 lakh families enrolled under the scheme, the lack of clarity on pending claims risks eroding trust in what is billed as a flagship healthcare initiative.
Critics say that while the government is tightening rules on paper, it has failed to address the most pressing issue—honouring past commitments .
The Chief Minister, however, reiterated his government’s commitment to providing accessible and modern healthcare, directing the department to improve service delivery.
For thousands still awaiting their dues, those assurances may ring hollow unless the government first clears the backlog it has allowed to build up since 2022 -23.