Himachal to Roll Out New Health Insurance Scheme with Rs. 10 Lakh Cover for Poor Families: CM Sukhu.
Shimla:
In a major step towards strengthening healthcare access in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu yesterday announced that the state government is set to introduce a new health insurance policy aimed at providing quality and affordable healthcare to economically weaker families across the state. Under the proposed scheme, eligible families will receive health insurance coverage of up to Rs. 10 lakh at a highly affordable premium.
The announcement was made during a high-level meeting of the Health Department chaired by the Chief Minister in Shimla.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said the proposed policy would bring nearly 10 lakh families from different sections of society under its ambit, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent them from accessing quality medical treatment.
He said that the initiative would make Himachal Pradesh the first state in the country to provide such a comprehensive health insurance scheme at a nominal premium, marking a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare reforms.
To ensure beneficiaries have access to advanced medical care, the Chief Minister said that leading multi-speciality and tertiary care hospitals would be empanelled under the scheme. This, he added, would enable poor families to avail specialised treatment without worrying about the financial burden.
“The policy has been designed to provide equitable access to quality healthcare for every eligible citizen and ensure that no family is deprived of advanced medical treatment due to economic hardships,” Sukhu said.
Reviewing the state’s healthcare initiatives, the Chief Minister said the government has been consistently introducing innovative measures to strengthen the health sector. He highlighted that hospitals and medical education institutions are being modernised, while diagnostic services are being upgraded through automation to provide patients with timely, efficient and hassle-free healthcare services.
He said the automation of diagnostic facilities would improve efficiency, reduce waiting time and offer greater convenience to patients across the state.
The Chief Minister also stressed the government’s focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure in district hospitals and all government medical colleges so that people can access quality treatment closer to their homes without having to travel long distances.
During the meeting, Sukhu directed officials to ensure that all medical equipment procured for government health institutions conforms to the standards prescribed by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He also instructed the Health Department to further strengthen the Radiology Departments in all government medical colleges to enhance diagnostic capabilities and improve patient care.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to healthcare reforms, the Chief Minister said the state aims to develop world-class healthcare facilities within Himachal Pradesh so that residents do not have to travel outside the state for advanced medical treatment.
The meeting was attended by Advocate General Anoop Rattan, Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Principal Secretary (Finance) Devesh Kumar, Secretary (Health) Ashish Singhmar and other senior officers.
