Shimla, Jan 9: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday said the state government would integrate maximum online facilities into healthcare services to improve accessibility, transparency and efficiency, and announced the constitution of a committee to oversee the process.
Chairing a review meeting with senior officers of the Health Department, the National Health Mission and the Directorate of Medical Education, Sukhu said the committee would be headed by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil and would submit its report within 10 days.
The Chief Minister said the integration of online facilities would save time and resources while ensuring the delivery of quality healthcare services. He also directed officials to develop an online system for patient registration across medical institutions and hospitals in the state, according to an official statement.
Sukhu said mapping of healthcare services should be ensured up to the panchayat level and that data related to patients’ treatment should be incorporated under the Himcare Scheme.
He further directed the integration of the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) card with the Him Parivar Portal, stating that the digital initiative would enhance transparency and accountability.
“It will also make monitoring of services, maintaining online records and the grievance redressal mechanism much more effective,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the adoption of online health services would support better planning and more effective administration, promote innovation and help achieve the goal of healthy citizens and a strong state.
Sukhu added that with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), health infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh was being strengthened to further improve healthcare services.
