Lok Sabha: Procedural Impediments of CGHS Beneficiaries

Lok Sabha: Procedural Impediments of CGHS Beneficiaries

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 780
ANSWERED ON: 14.12.2018

Procedural Impediments of CGHS Beneficiaries

JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has made it mandatory for the CGHS beneficiaries who have been referred to CGHS empanelled hospitals, to report back to the concerned wellness centre to endorse investigations advised by the specialists at empanelled hospitals and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has taken note of inconvenience and harassment being faced by CGHS beneficiaries who have to visit dispensaries time and again for endorsement of such investigations and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has received representations in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the corrective measures taken/ proposed to be taken by the Government to simplify/change the procedure in this regard in the interest of sick people, pensioners and serving employees?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) & (b): Yes; The Government vide its Office Memorandum No. Z.15025/117/2017/DIR/CGHS/EHS, dated the 15th January, 2018 permitted all CGHS beneficiaries to seek OPD consultation from Specialists at Private Hospitals empanelled under CGHS after being referred by any Medical Officer/CMO of CGHS Wellness Centre. After consultation at empanelled hospitals beneficiary shall report back to concerned Wellness Centre, where Medical Officer/CMO would endorse listed investigation and issue medicines.

The Government has reviewed the matter and issued revised guidelines.

(c): Yes; some representations were received for permitting investigations on the advice of Specialist of Private Hospitals empanelled under CGHS.

(d): The guidelines for referral issued vide Office Memorandum No. Z.15025/117/2017/DIR/CGHS/EHS, dated the 15th January, 2018 have been modified vide Office Memorandum No. Z.15025/117/2017/DIR/CGHS/EHS, dated the 10th December, 2018 and the following modifications have been made in the interest of sick people, pensioners and serving employees:-

• The referral shall be valid for consultations upto 3 times in the same hospital within 30 days.
• CGHS beneficiaries have been permitted to consult upto 3 Specialists, if required during a single visit.
• Investigations advised by Specialist of Private Empanelled Hospitals may be undertaken if they are required in emergency as certified by Specialist without endorsement by CGHS.

Source: LokSabha

Government Considering an Alternative for Pay Commission?

Government Considering an Alternative for Pay Commission?

"Whether the Government is considering an alternative for increasing the salaries and allowances of Central Government employees and pensioners in future instead of forming Pay Commission?"

Pay Commission Reports - Q&A in Lok Sabha

Whether the reports of successive Pay Commissions have been increasing the burden on Government finances/ exchequer in partially accepting their recommendations for increase in wages and if so, the details thereof; ?
The financial impact of the recommendations of the Central Pay Commission, as accepted by the Government, is normally more pronounced in the initial year and gradually it tapers off as the growth in the economy picks up and fiscal space is widened. While implementing the recommendations of the last Central Pay Commission, i.e., the Seventh Central Pay Commission, the Government staggered its implementation in two financial years. While the recommendations on pay and pension were implemented with effect from 01.01.2016, the recommendations in respect of allowances have been implemented with effect from 01.07.2017 after an examination by a Committee. This has moderated the financial impact of the recommendations. Moreover, unlike the previous 6th Pay Commission, which entailed substantial impact on account of arrears, the impact in the year 2016-17 on account of element of arrears of revised pay and pension on the present occasion of the 7th Central Pay Commission pertained to only 2 months of the previous financial year of 2015-16.

Whether the last Pay Commission has suggested productivity linked pay hike to the deserving employees to eliminate below average or mediocre performance and if so, the details thereof; ?
The Seventh Central Pay Commission in Para 5.1.46 of its Report proposed withholding of annual increment in the case of those employees who are not able to meet the benchmark either for Modified Assured Career Progression (MACP) or regular promotion within the first 20 years of their service.

Whether such periodic hikes in wages resulting from Pay Commission recommendations trigger similar demands from the State Government/public utility employees, imposing burden on already strained State finances and if so, the details thereof; and?
The service conditions of employees of State Governments fall within the exclusive domain of the respective State Governments who are federally independent of the Central Government. Therefore, the concerned State Governments have to independently take a view in the matter.

Whether the Government is considering an alternative for increasing the salaries and allowances of Central Government employees and pensioners in future instead of forming Pay Commission and if so, the details thereof?
No such proposal is under consideration of the Government.

Source: Lok Sabha

Linking of CGHS Card number with Aadhaar is purely on a voluntary basis

Linking of CGHS Card number with Aadhaar is purely on a voluntary basis

The below information was given in written reply to a question about the linking between CGHS card and Aadhaar by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda in Lok Sabha on 11th March 2016 as follows…

“Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an Office Memorandum No. Z-15025/11/201-DIR CGHS dated the 10th July 2015 requesting the Ministries/Departments concerned to motivate their employees availing CGHS to link their Aadhaar Numbers with the CGHS database either online themselves through the CGHS portal or through the CMO-in-charge of their dispensary.

Central Government employees/pensioners applying for new CGHS cards/new plastic cards have the option to provide Aadhaar Number for entering the number in CGHS database.

Linking of CGHS beneficiary ID number with Aadhaar number is purely on a voluntary basis.

Linkage of Aadhaar number with CGHS ID will facilitate consolidation of all health-related data bases and enable more convenient access to various E-services in the future. “