Health services take a major hit in hill state
Sourabh Sood
Dharamshala
Himachal Pradesh’s flagship health schemes Himcare and Ayushman Bharat are facing a severe financial backlog, with pending dues now crossing the ₹100-crore mark, raising concerns over the strain on hospitals offering cashless treatment.
In a written reply to Dharamshala BJP MLA Sudhir Sharma, the government disclosed that Himcare has unpaid dues of Rs 73.21 crore, while Ayushman owes Rs 160.60 crore to various government medical colleges and hospitals across the state.
The government clarified that cashless treatment continues uninterrupted, but admitted that payment settlements to hospitals under both schemes are an ongoing process.
The data reveals sharp outstanding amounts at major health institutions
Major pending dues (Himcare | Ayushman):
IGMC-Shimla: Rs 75.31 crore | Rs 38.14 crore
Tanda Medical College: Rs 67.51 crore | Rs 23.65 crore
Hamirpur: Rs 9.63 crore | Rs 6.53 crore
Chamba: Rs 24.52 crore | Rs 1.40 crore
Nahan: Rs 3.22 crore | Rs 55.35 lakh
Dental College-Shimla: Rs 22.71 lakh | Rs 1.03 crore
Hospitals like Nerchowk and Chamyana have no pending dues under Himcare but carry over Rs 2 crore in Ayushman liabilities combined.
129 approved posts remain vacant in Tanda Hospital
Meanwhile, the government also acknowledged staffing gaps at Tanda Medical College, where 129 of 391 approved posts remain vacant, adding further pressure on service delivery.
With liabilities mounting, experts warn that delayed reimbursements could eventually impact hospital operations, purchasing, and patient care efficiency if not cleared promptly.
Himachal’s two largest health schemes now face combined dues of more than Rs 230 crore, raising urgent questions about financial management and long-term sustainability of cashless healthcare in the state.
