HP govt reforms Himcare scheme to boost efficiency

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday reviewed ongoing reforms in the state's health sector, with a special focus on improving transparency and efficiency in payments under the Himcare health scheme.During the meeting, the officials said several key improvements had been introduced to strengthen the Himcare scheme and minimise the scope for corruption. A major reform involves rationalising payment procedures for govt hospitals. Under the revised system, hospitals will receive the lower of two amounts: either the actual cost of treatment, including consumables, or the pre-fixed package rate. The hospitals are now required to submit detailed bills reflecting actual expenditures along with their claims. Certain expenses, including registration fees, bed charges, nursing and boarding, will no longer be included in reimbursement claims. Additionally, payments for surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors, consultants and costs related to anaesthesia, blood transfusion, oxygen supply, operation theatre usage, surgical equipment, medicines and patient meals will be excluded from claim submissions. These components are already covered separately under the scheme and funded through dedicated budgetary allocations. Earlier, such expenses were financed through dual mechanisms, leading to overlaps. With the new rationalisation, these costs will now be streamlined and funded directly by the govt. Currently, around 4.33 lakh families are registered under the Himcare scheme, which offers free treatment in empanelled govt hospitals. The chief minister also directed the officials concerned to ensure accessible, high-quality and modern healthcare services across the state.