Healthcare set to be ‘outsourced’ in Himachal

To ensure that specialists are available in government hospitals, particularity in cases of emergencies, the Himachal government is planning to "outsource healthcare services".

Under this, during emergencies, doctors will be hired on a case-to-case basis or for a particular period and be paid by the government. "We will soon have a proper policy, defining the nature of services and remunerations to be paid to the specialists," Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur said.

The government, he admitted, has not been able to fill the gap between requirement and the number of existing specialists over the years. Thus, the concept of going the Public Private Partnership (PPP) way is being closely looked into by the Congress government.

"Himachal Pradesh is probably one of the very few states in the country where over 70 per cent of the people are dependent on the government sector. The private sector in healthcare has not caught up in the hill state for topographical constraints, scattered population and lesser paying capacity of the rural population," Thakur said.

Government health institutions, especially in rural and tribal areas, are awaiting both general as well as specialist doctors. Leave alone specialists, hospitals in tribal areas of Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, Bharmour and other interior areas of Chamba, Sirmour and Mandi had been functioning with minimum strength of even MBBS doctors.

ALSO READ

Rail traffic hit due to protests over Sajjan's acquittal

Family of 1971 POW awaits his return from Pak, fears for his life

Anti-Pakistan protests erupt in Sarabjit's native village

Promised jobs in Iraq, 20 youth return empty-handed