Shimla, Feb 15 (NationPress) The leader of the Himachal Pradesh Opposition, Jairam Thakur, expressed strong disapproval on Sunday towards the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu administration, alleging that it has sabotaged significant initiatives such as the Centre's medical device park, which could have bolstered the state's economy. He attributed this failure to the government's stubbornness, corruption, and gross mismanagement.

Thakur stated, "Had this government executed the Nalagarh Medical Device Park project on schedule, it would have been a game changer for Himachal Pradesh. Instead, due to its political grudges, the Sukhu government has compromised the state’s interests." He further elaborated on the matter, pointing out that similar projects are progressing in three other states.

"Companies have received land allocations along the Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, while advanced tech firms are investing in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) and Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu), moving towards making the nation self-reliant in medical equipment by creating investment opportunities for manufacturers of devices such as ventilators and pacemakers," he added.

Thakur lamented that the medical device project, initiated by the previous BJP-led government amidst intense competition, is now stalled due to the current government’s intransigence. The Union government, led by Narendra Modi, had even allocated the first installment of ₹30 crore for the project, which was subsequently returned by the state government.

Despite a goal for the project to be finished by March 2025, the current status remains dismal, jeopardizing an investment of ₹10,000 crore and approximately 15,000 direct jobs, Thakur noted.

He also raised alarms regarding the declining health services in the state, claiming that public welfare has been "utterly robbed" since the state-run health scheme Himcare has been halted due to outstanding liabilities of ₹400 crore, ₹250 crore for Ayushman Bharat, and ₹120 crore for the Sahara scheme.

Thakur pointed out that vendors have ceased supplying surgical materials and medications due to unpaid dues, thereby delaying surgeries for needy patients. Those suffering from serious conditions, like cancer, are compelled to purchase costly injections and medications from outside sources.

He remarked on the irony that while the state government struggles to settle debts, major hospitals such as Indira Gandhi Medical College are exploiting the situation by hiking prices for special wards, MRI scans, and abdominal scans.