TNR News Network
Shimla: Tensions flared in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on the second day of the monsoon session on Tuesday (August 19, 2025) as the opposition BJP walked out in protest over alleged lapses in the state’s Himcare health insurance scheme.
The uproar broke out during question hour at 11 am following heated exchanges between BJP legislators and Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil.
The controversy was triggered when Vinod Kumar, BJP MLA from Nachan, raised concerns about the non-implementation of the Himcare scheme in premier hospitals, including AIIMS and state medical colleges. “Despite assurances, patients with Himcare cards are being denied treatment. Will the government ensure that every hospital accepting Himcare provides treatment to all eligible cardholders,” he said.
Health Minister Shandil responded by noting that the member had raised the issue emotionally. He said that the government had been consistently allocating budgetary support for the scheme and that efforts were being made to improve its implementation. However, his response failed to satisfy the opposition.
BJP MLA Randhir Sharma added fuel to the debate by claiming that over Rs 365 crore in Himcare payments were still pending. He also questioned the provisions made for 25 hospitals where dialysis services under the scheme were initiated. As criticism mounted, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu intervened, defending the government’s position and launching a strong counterattack.
CM Sukhu slams BJP, alleges nepotism and financial irregularities
In a sharp rebuttal, CM Sukhu claimed that the Himcare scheme, during the previous BJP regime, had become a hotbed of favouritism and financial mismanagement. “This scheme was misused to benefit select individuals. There was blatant nepotism. We are not shutting down the scheme; we are strengthening it. Improvements are underway,” he said.
He further alleged that the previous government had inflated package rates under Himcare. “For instance, gallbladder surgeries cost just Rs 11,000 to Rs 15,000, yet inflated claims were approved under the scheme. This was a scam,” the Chief Minister alleged, vowing to expose all past irregularities.
Sukhu announced that within the next year, all state medical colleges and zonal hospitals would be upgraded to AIIMS standards with advanced technologies like robotic surgery and automated labs, ensuring world-class healthcare access under Himcare.
Assembly proceedings disrupted
The situation escalated around 12.25 pm when Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania denied a point of order raised by Randhir Sharma. The BJP legislators erupted in protest, leading to a brief adjournment of the session for five minutes. The proceedings resumed at 12.30 pm, but not before the opposition staged a walkout, accusing the government of evading accountability.
As the political drama unfolded, the debate over Himcare has once again highlighted the growing tensions between the ruling Congress and opposition BJP, with both sides trading serious allegations over the state’s flagship healthcare initiative.
