Shimla, March 28 A heated debate occurred between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Saturday during a discussion on a cut motion related to the health department.
Leader of the Opposition Jairam Thakur raised several questions regarding the state government's handling of the Himcare scheme and health services. He also objected to statements made by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
The BJP leader asserted that the chief minister's facts regarding the Himcare scheme are inaccurate. Specifically, he addressed the issue of bills related to "hysterectomies performed on men".
He said that the medicines in question are actually used in the treatment of cancer patients and added that an investigation into the matter revealed that these medications had indeed been utilized for the treatment of patients suffering from cancer.
The Himcare scheme, launched during the tenure of the previous BJP government, provides free healthcare services to low-income individuals who are not covered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana or Jan Arogya Yojana.
He further alleged that the information being provided by the chief minister's health advisor is incorrect.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had on Friday said that irregularities such as bills for ovarian surgeries of men and the implantation of expired lenses have come to light during an internal audit of the Himcare scheme, following which a vigilance inquiry has been ordered.
The Leader of the Opposition countered and said that if any irregularities occurred within the Himcare scheme, they should be investigated, but discontinuing the scheme entirely would be inappropriate.
He also argued that it is unfair to tarnish doctors' reputations by levelling allegations of irregularities against the scheme. He further alleged that attempts are being made to alter the fundamental structure of the Nerchowk Medical University, a move he deemed improper.
Jairam Thakur also raised questions regarding the infrastructure of health services. He said that while introducing robotic surgery in two major institutions is logical, launching it across five locations without adequate infrastructure could impose an additional financial burden on patients.
He also highlighted the issue of the termination of outsourced employees who served during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that their removal is unjustifiable given their crucial role during a difficult period.
He also pointed out that the current government took approximately three and a half years to install the PET-scan machine, an initiative for which the previous government had already laid the groundwork.
Furthermore, Thakur alleged that the procurement of furniture for the medical colleges in Chamba and Hamirpur has remained incomplete for the past year and a half.
The LOP remarked that Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda is willing to provide funds from the Centre for various health schemes, but the state government must ensure proper utilisation of those funds.
He pointed out that while the state government receives financial assistance from the Centre for numerous schemes, it does not even acknowledge or appreciate it.
