Shimla: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday announced that the state govt would launch a health insurance scheme offering coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh to economically weaker families at a nominal premium.Chairing a meeting of the health department, Sukhu said around 10 lakh families were expected to benefit from the scheme, which aims to ensure affordable access to quality healthcare. He claimed Himachal Pradesh would become the first state in the country to provide such comprehensive health insurance at an affordable cost.The proposed scheme will also empanel leading multi-speciality and tertiary care hospitals to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent eligible beneficiaries from accessing advanced treatment.The chief minister said the govt was simultaneously strengthening the healthcare sector through hospital modernisation, upgradation of medical education institutions and automation of diagnostic services.He directed officials to improve infrastructure in district hospitals and govt medical colleges, procure medical equipment in line with AIIMS, New Delhi standards and further strengthen radiology departments to improve diagnostic facilities.
