Himachal HC slams State over Rs 521 Crore NHM Fund misuse, seeks detailed report

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has expressed serious concerns over the state government’s handling of ₹521.68 crore allocated under the National Health Mission (NHM) for the fiscal year 2024–25. In a recent hearing, the court criticized the affidavit submitted by the State Health Secretary, calling it vague and lacking necessary details on how the funds were utilised to improve healthcare services.

In response, the court directed the Central Government to intervene, verify the spending details, and submit a fresh report within four weeks.

The directive was issued by Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma, who are currently overseeing a case spotlighting the critical shortage of doctors at primary health centres (PHCs) across Himachal Pradesh, particularly affecting rural communities. The bench underscored the importance of transparency and accountability in the use of public health funds, particularly given the challenges faced by rural communities due to inadequate medical care.

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“The affidavit doesn’t clearly show how the ₹521.68 crore improved health services or infrastructure,” the court noted, urging the Centre to cross-check the state’s claims and provide a detailed explanation, reports the Himachal Headlines.

According to the Himachal Headlines, the court also examined the December 2024 transfer of 93 medical officers. It demanded specifics on how many doctors actually joined their new posts, how many didn’t, and whether any disciplinary action was taken. It also questioned why 21 of those transfers were later cancelled.

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As per the state’s affidavit, only 11 doctors were reassigned, 32 transfers were cancelled, and at least 43 PHCs remain without doctors. Although the government claimed to have appointed 11 new doctors between March and June 2025, the court pointed out that a shortfall of at least 32 medical officers still exists.

The bench demanded a full explanation about the transfer cancellations and staffing gaps in its next hearing, emphasizing the critical need for accountability in managing central health funds.

The High Court will review the matter again after four weeks, following submission of the verified report by the Central Government.