BJP Targets Himachal Government Over Healthcare and HimCare Scheme

The protest coincided with a formal Assembly discussion on health services under Rule 130. Thakur specifically targeted the state’s handling of the HimCare health insurance scheme, arguing that the government is orchestrating a campaign to discredit the program. He pointed to shifting claims regarding a financial irregularity, noting that the administration initially alleged a 1,100-crore scam before adjusting the figure to 100 crore. According to the opposition, these investigations are part of a targeted effort to justify the eventual discontinuation of the scheme.

Beyond HimCare, the opposition raised alarms regarding the Sahara scheme, alleging that beneficiaries requiring long-term financial support have been unfairly dropped from the rolls. Thakur cited an instance where a disabled beneficiary was reportedly denied aid after being incorrectly labeled as deceased in government records. The opposition leader further accused the Congress government of abandoning the poor in favor of high-end medical technology, such as robotic surgery, while hospitals struggle with shortages of basic medicines. The ruling party dismissed these accusations, staging counter-protests within the chamber, a move Thakur criticized as a failure of governance. The confrontation underscores a deepening rift between the two parties as they clash over the state’s medical infrastructure and the legacy of previous welfare initiatives.