Chandigarh, April 18 -- Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) has expressed concern over prolonged delay in settlement of claims under the HIMCARE health scheme, run by the Himachal Pradesh government.

On March 8 last year, PGIMER introduced a cashless treatment facility under the HIMCARE scheme, benefitting thousands of patients from Himachal Pradesh. Under the earlier system, patients were required to secure cost estimates, seek approvals from Shimla, and submit bills for reimbursement-a process that could stretch over several months. The cashless system eliminated these hurdles, allowing patients to initiate treatment by simply submitting a photocopy of their HIMCARE card along with their hospital slip

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