Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur revealed that Rs. 4.43 crore had been spent for treatment of more than 2600 patients at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY) during last ten months. He said that Rs. 3.11 crore had been spent on Critical Care Patient Treatment under the Scheme alone in IGMC.

Health Minister said that RSBY Plus (Critical Care) was the major initiative taken by the State Government under which cashless benefit of Rs. 1.75 lakh were being provided for treatment of cardiac and cardiothoracic surgeries, Genito Urinary Surgery, Neurosurgery, Radiation Oncology, Trauma, Transplant Surgeries, Spinal Surgeries, Surgical Gastroenterology, Hemophilia and Cancer for all Smart Card Holders. He said that at present IGMC, Shimla, Dr. RPGMC Kangra at Tanda and PGI Chandigarh had been empanelled for RSBY Plus. Under RSBY special fund has been created and provided to medical colleges.

Kaul Singh Thakur said that other than BPL, i.e. MNREGA workers, street vendors, building and other construction workers and persons with more than 70 percent disability had been included under the Scheme. He said that the State continues to have one of the best enrollment and as well as usage under the scheme in the country.

He said that to make realize the dream of a healthy and developed society, emphasis was being laid on ensuring quality healthcare on equitable, accessible and affordable basis throughout the State by creating infrastructure with all requisite facilities.