Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 26 (ANI): Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while chairing a meeting of the Health Department on Thursday, announced that the Himachal Pradesh Government will soon launch a comprehensive palliative care campaign to provide home-based medical services to elderly citizens and patients across the state.
According to an official release, the Chief Minister directed officials to identify eligible beneficiaries, with a particular focus on elderly individuals who require consistent care at home. The campaign will be implemented with the assistance of ASHA workers and Community Health Officers (CHOs), who will be responsible for the initial identification process.
Each shortlisted case will be assessed by a specialist team comprising a medical officer, a physiotherapist from Aadarsh Swasthya Sansthan, and CHOs. This team will conduct home visits to develop individualized treatment plans. The identification and planning stages are expected to be completed within three months of the campaign’s launch, the Chief Minister said.
In addition to the outreach initiative, palliative and elderly care hubs will be established at Aadarsh Swasthya Sansthans. Each hub will include a team of two medical officers, two nurses, one physiotherapist, and a counsellor who will deliver a range of healthcare services. These teams will also conduct quarterly home visits to monitor progress and provide ongoing support.
CM Sukhu also reviewed the implementation of health insurance schemes such as Himcare and Ayushman Bharat, directing that all beneficiaries be linked with their Him Parivar number for streamlined access. He further announced that new Himcare applications will be accepted quarterly, with cards issued in the final month of each quarter.
In a bid to extend support to critical patients, Principals of Medical Colleges and Medical Superintendents will be empowered to recommend Himcare card issuance for up to 100 critical patients within their respective hospitals.
Additionally, the State Government plans to establish 49 new dialysis centres at Aadarsh Swasthya Sansthans across Himachal Pradesh at an estimated cost of ₹41.62 crore, the Chief Minister said.
The meeting was attended by Health Minister Col Dhani Ram Shandil, Secretary of Health M Sudha Devi, Director of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Director of Medical Education Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Special Secretary Neeraj Kumar, and other senior officials. (ANI)
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