Himcare Scam in Himachal Pradesh: The Himachal Pradesh Vigilance Bureau has intensified its probe into alleged financial irregularities in the state’s flagship Himcare health scheme following indications of a multi-crore scam.
Officials confirmed that three dedicated teams have been formed, each assigned specific responsibilities to ensure a thorough and systematic investigation.
The first team has been tasked with collecting records from private hospitals across the state. Its primary objective is to examine the kind of medical services and treatments claimed by these hospitals under the Himcare scheme for various patients.
The second team is meticulously scrutinising documents and bills submitted by the hospitals. It is specifically looking into discrepancies between the approved package amounts and the actual expenses claimed, including cases where hospitals allegedly added charges for items and services outside the approved treatment packages.
The third team will compile a comprehensive investigation report based on the findings of the first two teams.
During the initial probe, the Vigilance Bureau has already collected records related to 35 private hospitals, including some from outside Himachal Pradesh. It has come to light that many hospitals were opened shortly after the launch of the Himcare scheme. Several of these were reportedly started by converting residential houses or rented floors into small nursing homes.
Preliminary findings suggest that a number of hospitals have been billing for services and materials beyond the scope of approved operation packages. In several instances, expenses were shown in the name of patients even though those procedures or items were never actually provided. This has resulted in unnecessary financial burden on the scheme and clear violation of its guidelines.
The Vigilance Bureau is now examining the possibility of a scam amounting to more than Rs 110 crore in the Himcare scheme.
The state government has maintained a firm stand on the matter. Officials have assured that those found guilty will not be spared under any circumstances and the entire investigation will be conducted with complete transparency.
Senior officers of the Health Department stated that once the probe is completed, strict action will be taken against the concerned hospitals as well as any government officials found involved in the irregularities. They also said that the monitoring mechanism of the scheme will be further strengthened to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Himcare scheme was launched with the noble objective of providing free and quality healthcare services to needy and vulnerable sections of society. However, the emerging allegations of large-scale irregularities have raised serious questions about the implementation and credibility of this important public welfare scheme.
The Vigilance Bureau is expected to submit its detailed findings in the coming weeks. The case is being closely watched across the state as it involves public money meant for the treatment of common citizens.
