Himcare Payment Delay: Health services hit at IGMC Shimla

Shimla: Himcare and Ayushman cardholders are facing difficulties obtaining essential medicines at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital's (IGMC) Jan Aushadhi store, where they are entitled to receive them free of cost.

Sources reveal that the outstanding payments under these schemes at IGMC have soared to over Rs 65 crore, contributing to a cumulative debt of approximately Rs 300 crore statewide.

Furthermore, certain departments have ceased providing free surgeries to cardholders, creating a need to purchase costly equipment such as stents and pacemakers. Patients availing treatment under the Himcare and Ayushman health schemes at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital, Shimla, find themselves in a predicament as pending payments under these schemes lead to disruptions in services, reports the Daily. 

The repercussions of these payment delays extend beyond the medical institution, affecting drug distributors who have suspended supplies to the hospital’s Jan Aushadhi store due to unpaid dues. Consequently, patients are compelled to procure medicines not available at the Jan Aushadhi store from the open market at full price. Anuj Jain, secretary of the Shimla Chemists and Druggists Association, expressed disappointment over the prolonged non-payment, stating that their dues have remained outstanding for nearly a year. Despite their efforts to sustain supplies, they were compelled to halt operations. 

“Our payments have not been released for almost a year now. We kept supplying medicines for as long as we could but eventually, we had to stop it about a month back. The companies are not supplying medicines without the payment now,” he told The Tribune. “We have been assured by the hospital administration that payments will be released by April 15,” he added.

Rajeev Saizal, the former Health Minister has alleged that the pending payments might indicate the government's reluctance in continuing these schemes. “The suppliers have stopped the delivery of medicine and equipment. As a result, several departments have stopped the free-of-cost surgeries,” he added. Acknowledging the severity of the situation, an official from the state health authority affirmed that they are actively engaging with the government to address the issue of payment delays. 

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