Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) that the Congress-led State government is set to launch a new health insurance scheme offering coverage of up to ₹10 lakh, aimed at ensuring quality healthcare access for economically weaker families across the State.

Presiding over a high-level meeting of the health department in Shimla, Mr. Sukhu said that under the proposed policy, poor families would receive health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh at a highly affordable premium.

“With this pioneering initiative, Himachal Pradesh would become the first state in the country to offer such a comprehensive health insurance scheme at a nominal premium. Nearly 10 lakh families belonging to various sections of society would be brought under the ambit of the new policy,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that leading multi-speciality and tertiary care hospitals would also be empanelled under the scheme to ensure that these families were not deprived of advanced medical treatment due to economic constraints. “The policy had been designed with the objective of providing equitable access to quality healthcare for every eligible citizen,” he added.

Asserting that the State government had been consistently introducing innovative initiatives to strengthen the healthcare sector, the Chief Minister said that hospitals and medical education institutions were being modernised, while medical diagnostic services were being upgraded through automation across the State. “This initiative would enable patients to avail timely, efficient and hassle-free diagnostic services, besides ensuring greater convenience and saving valuable time. The state government was strengthening healthcare infrastructure in district hospitals and all government medical colleges to ensure that people receive quality medical treatment closer to their homes,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that the State government was committed to developing world-class healthcare facilities within Himachal Pradesh so that people do not have to travel outside the state for advanced medical treatment.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) said that scrapping the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replacing it with the new Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) does not serve the hill State’s interests as it would further strain already limited resources.

VB-G RAM G vs MGNREGA: States’ expenditure could go up six-fold from ₹7,600 cr to ₹51,000 cr

Mr. Sukhu, who was presiding over a review meeting of his government’s Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department in Shimla, said that while MGNREGA was fully funded by the Central government, the new scheme required States to cover 10% of the costs, which placed an additional financial burden on Himachal Pradesh’s limited resources. The issue would be raised with the Central government, he said.

“The State government is making concerted efforts to strengthen the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, recognising its pivotal role in the holistic development of rural Himachal Pradesh. Vacant posts in the department are being filled on a priority basis to enhance administrative efficiency,” he said, adding that more recruitments would be undertaken in the coming period.

Mr. Sukhu directed officers to ensure benefits reach intended beneficiaries in a timely manner. He also instructed the Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, to integrate all flagship schemes of the department with the Chief Minister’s dashboard for effective online monitoring.

Financial assistance was being extended to Self Help Groups to strengthen livelihoods, Mr. Sukhu said, highlighting the State government’s commitment to empowering rural women.