BJP Walks Out, CM Hits Back Over Himcare Row
Vidhan Sabha Monsoon Session.
SHIMLA: THE Assembly on Tuesday turned into a battlefield as the Opposition BJP stormed out, accusing the Sukhu government of wrecking the Himcare health scheme.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur ripped into the Congress, saying the system had collapsed so badly that “mothers and sisters are being forced to pawn their bangles and mangalsutras just to buy medicines.”
He claimed patients were being humiliated at chemists because their Himcare cards were useless.
The claims are pending over the years as the government has not allocated funds for Himcare, health backbone of the middle class.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu struck back, alleging that it was under the BJP’s tenure that Himcare became a loot machine with private hospitals raising bogus bills worth crores.
But he didn't release data as to who has looted funds under Himcare.
“We are not scrapping the scheme, we are cleansing it,” Sukhu said, adding that his government had already cleared ₹190 crore in dues and was working on plugging loopholes.
Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil admitted that over ₹465 crore in liabilities remain but assured that patients are still being treated free of cost and claims are in process.
Sukhu also hinted at an overhaul—shorter card validity, higher premiums for taxpayers, and stricter checks on private hospitals—to make Himcare financially sustainable.
With BJP demanding immediate restoration of free care and the government pushing for reforms, the scheme has now become the hottest flashpoint of the monsoon session.
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