SHIMLA-26^th June, 2025-While presiding over a meeting of Health Department here today, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed to identify the eligible beneficiaries for palliative care with special focus on elderly persons requiring home based health care. He said that the State Government would launch a comprehensive palliative care campaign shortly, aimed at offering door step medical services to elderly and patients across the State.

Sh. Sukhu said that ASHA workers and Community Health officers (CHOs) will identify the eligible beneficiaries and team comprising of medical officer, physiotherapist from Aadarsh Swasthya Sansthan alongwith CHOs will visit the shortlisted beneficiaries to finalize the treatment plan. The identification and planning process will be completed within three months of launch. He said that palliative and elderly care hubs would be established at Aadarsh Swasthya Sansthan, where two medical officers, two nurses, one physiotherapist and counselor will provide health care services. The team will also visit homes of the beneficiaries quarterly to monitor and support the beneficiaries.

The Chief Minister also reviewed Himcare and Ayushman Bharat Scheme and directed to ensure seeding of the beneficiaries with Him Parivar number. He said that new Himcare applicants will be able to apply for enrollment under the scheme quarterly and cards to be issued in the last month of each quarter. Additionally, the Principals of Medical Colleges and Medical Superintendent will also be empowered to recommend the issuance of Himcare cards for upto 100 critical patients within their respective hospitals.

Sh. Sukhu said that the State Government would establish new 49 dialysis centres in Aadarsh Swasthya Sansthans with an estimated cost of Rs. 41.62 crores.

Health Minister Col. (Dr.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Secretary Health M. Sudha Devi, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Director Medical Education Dr. Rakesh Sharma, Special Secretary Neeraj Kumar and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.

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SHIMLA -26^th June, 2025

CM directs district administrations to be prepared to mitigate monsoon fury

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed all the Deputy Commissioners of the State to stay alert and ensure 24x7 availability for the public to deal with the unfolding situation efficiently, keeping in view the adverse weather conditions.

While reviewing the situation of the State with district administrations virtually from Shimla today, he asked all the Deputy Commissioners to conduct relief and rehabilitation operations for affected individuals on war-footing.

The Chief Minister also instructed them to identify the individuals or families, particularly migrant labourers, living close to the banks of the rivers, khads and nullahas and to re-locate them to safer places besides ensuring their safety. He also directed to issue advisories warning tourists and locals against venturing near rivers and nullahas during the rainy season.

He also asked them to report all kinds of losses to the government at the earliest. He said that power projects are suffering repeated losses during every monsoon season and called for formulating a comprehensive strategy to safeguard their vital infrastructure.

Over the last 24 hours, Himachal Pradesh has reported three cloudbursts, nine flash floods and three landslides resulting in five fatalities and one injury. Three individuals in Kullu district and 5-6 in Kangra district are still missing while 21 stranded persons have been evacuated. Two National Highways- 505 and NH-03 are still blocked at multiple locations due to landslides. Following a cloudburst at Majhan nullaha in Sainj valley, the downstream hydro electric projects Sainj, Parvati and Larji have been shut down and opened their gates as precautionary measures. Intensive search and rescue operations are underway with teams from SDRF, Home Guards and NDRF across the affected areas.

MLAs Mohan Lal Brakta and Ashish Butail, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Special Secretary Revenue D.C. Rana, OSD to Chief Minister Gopal Sharma were also present on the occasion.