After a prolonged wait, patients under the Himcare scheme are set to get relief as the government has released ₹10 crore to AIIMS Bilaspur. This funding will enable the resumption of major surgeries that had been suspended due to vendors stopping supply of equipment and implants over unpaid dues.
The orthopedics department, which typically conducts 25-30 surgeries monthly, had been particularly affected with hip and knee replacement surgeries coming to a complete halt. Patients were being examined but sent back with surgery dates postponed indefinitely due to lack of surgical implants and equipment.
Vendors have now resumed supply following the payment release, and AIIMS management has confirmed that operations will return to normal schedule soon. According to doctors, patients receive significant relief under Himcare and Ayushman schemes, getting hip and knee replacements for just thousands of rupees compared to over ₹1.5 lakh for private procedures.
The funding crisis had also affected the Amrit Pharmacy within AIIMS campus, leading to medicine shortages. With vendors beginning to restore medicine supplies following the government payment, the pharmacy stock situation is expected to normalize in coming days.
AIIMS management stated that availability of essential equipment and medicines across all departments will be restored to normal levels soon, ensuring uninterrupted surgical services for patients. The ₹10 crore release has generated optimism that patients eligible under these schemes will no longer face treatment delays.
However, the state government still owes approximately ₹40 crore to AIIMS for Himcare and Ayushman Bharat health schemes. The recent ₹10 crore payment has raised hopes that the remaining amount will also be released soon, providing comprehensive relief to eligible patients who depend on these government health schemes for affordable medical care.
