BJP MLA Prakash Rana Raises Concerns Over Health Services in Jogindernagar Mandi.
Shimla:
BJP MLA from Jogindernagar Prakash Rana today raised serious concerns over the state of healthcare services in the Jogindernagar Assembly constituency of Mandi district during the ongoing session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in Shimla.
Rana alleged that the shortage of doctors and medical staff had severely affected healthcare delivery in the constituency. He said that out of the 19 sanctioned doctors at Jogindernagar Hospital, only seven are currently available, leaving a significant gap in medical services.
Highlighting the situation at Ladbharol, the BJP MLA said that only one doctor is available against six posts. He also drew attention to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Chauntra, where, despite an annual OPD of around 25,000 patients, only one doctor is available.
Rana further claimed that several health sub-centres in the area were also functioning without adequate doctors and staff. Questioning the government, he asked where ordinary people should go for treatment when healthcare facilities at the grassroots level remain understaffed.
Questions Himcare Changes
The Jogindernagar MLA also raised concerns over the Himcare health insurance scheme, describing it as an important source of support for poor and economically weaker families facing expensive medical treatment.
Rana said that when a family begins to lose hope after seeing the high cost of hospital treatment, Himcare provides crucial financial support. He urged the government not to take away the scheme’s benefits from needy families in the process of making changes to it.
He said that if the government wanted to change the name or introduce modifications, it could do so, but the financial security and treatment support available to poor families should not be compromised.
Rana’s remarks highlighted concerns over doctor shortages, inadequate staffing at healthcare institutions and the accessibility of treatment for people in rural areas. His intervention also brought the issue of affordable healthcare and the future of Himcare into focus during the Assembly session.
