Discover the Perks and Eligibility of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
The central government in India is committed to the health and well-being of its employees. One embodiment of its commitment is the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), a comprehensive health care system that caters to the medical needs of central government employees, pensioners and their dependents. As the central govt health scheme, it offers several benefits which deserve consideration and understanding.
The central govt health scheme was started in 1954, with the aim to provide health care facilities to central government employees that include all retired pensioners of central government and their dependents based in the cities covered under CGHS. Today, the scheme is functional in several cities, providing comprehensive medical care to many beneficiaries.
To elaborate on the specifics, the benefits of the CGHS revolve around comprehensive medical care. The primary aspect is the allopathic treatment provided under CGHS. Medical consultation is given by specialists at CGHS Wellness Centres and government hospitals. The scheme also includes the provisions for homeopathy, ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, and Siddha treatments.
Another crucial member of the central govt health scheme is the provision for cashless facility for treatment in empanelled hospitals or diagnostic centres for pensioners, freedom fighters, etc. This process is specifically designed to minimise any out-of-pocket expenses at the point of service. Moreover, the CGHS beneficiaries can also avail treatments in private hospitals under emergency conditions.
Furthermore, the CGHS also provides for reimbursement of expenses incurred on health check-up. It covers a range of medical investigations including X-rays, ECG and laboratory tests. Beneficiaries can obtain medicines for 3 months for chronic diseases. Not just limited to these, the central govt health scheme also provides maternity and child health services, family welfare services including counseling, immunization, and health education to its beneficiaries.
Now, who exactly is eligible to experience the perks of the central govt health scheme? Essentially, all central government employees, pensioners, siting and ex-MPs, freedom fighters, officers, and staff of the parliament are eligible. Even certain autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies under the government’s control have been allowed to avail of the facilities under CGHS.
That’s not all, the benefits under CGHS have been extended to include retired officials from the central police organisations, civil service officers, and post-retirement spouses of government employees. Also, accredit journalists, railway board employees, Delhi police employees posted in Delhi and their families, supreme court judges and some more categories are eligible for the CGHS benefits. This expansive eligibility criterion therefore is a noteworthy aspect of the central govt health scheme.
To complement and augment the central govt health scheme, several state governments also have their schemes. For instance, in Maharashtra, the state government runs the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY). It provides free of cost, quality medical care for identified diseases through empanelled Government / Private hospitals, to the Below Poverty Line and Above Poverty Line (excluding White Ration Card holders) populations. Just like the central govt health scheme, MJPJAY’s eligibility extends to large swaths of Maharashtra’s population, it covers a number of high costs procedures from cancer surgeries to radiation therapy.
In essence, the central govt health scheme serves to provide comprehensive health coverage to central government employees and other defined categories. It vouches for a timely, efficient, and beneficial service to its beneficiaries. Moreover, its expansive list of eligible individuals makes it an attractive health care provision. With the seamless integration of schemes like MJPJAY at the state level, it aids to grant coverage to a more significant portion of the Indian population. Health remains an undeniable right, and the central govt health scheme is making strides in making health care accessible, affordable, and effective.
