Former CM Jairam Thakur Questions CM on Unfulfilled Health Promises

Shimla, 30-12-2024: Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has criticized Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for failing to deliver on the promise of establishing 69 “Model Health Institutions” made during his first budget speech.

Thakur pointed out that the promise, made in the 2022 budget on page 13, paragraph 37, has seen no progress even after two years. He alleged that despite further commitments in the 2024-25 budget, including the establishment of cancer daycare centers and palliative care units, the government has not implemented any of these initiatives.

Highlighting the poor state of healthcare, Thakur claimed that free medicines, essential treatments, and even minor surgeries are unavailable due to non-payment under schemes like Himcare and Ayushman Bharat. He called this inaction “shameful” and accused the current government of abandoning health reforms introduced by the previous administration.

Thakur also criticized the government for treating budget announcements as “election speeches,” urging the CM to take budget commitments seriously and ensure their timely implementation.