All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association

ON CGHS - Issues Raised by the CHQ with the 

Hon'ble Prime Minister 

&

The Reply received on Nature of Action Taken!!

Appeal for vital improvements in CGHS I am appealing to the Honourable Prime Minister in my capacity as the General Secretary of All India Postal and RMS Pensioners Association. The Central Government Employees and Pensioners are at present getting medical treatment through CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) in some centres of different States. There is a huge majority of Central Government Pensioners living in non-CGHS areas. These Pensioners are not covered under any medical schemes unlike the CG Employees who are extended the benefit under CS MA Rules, 1944. Now after a long interaction, the Government has issued orders permitting all Postal Pensioners living in non-CGHS areas to join CGHS. While this facilitates thearatically a good medical treatment to all Pensioners living in non-CGHS areas also, there are some practical impediments before them. The main problem is to travel long distances to reach out the CGHS Dispensaries existing only either in the capital city or in a major city of the State. This problem is turning out to be more arduous if the State is particularly a hilly State like Himachal Pradesh or the North Eastern States. In Himachal Pradesh the CGHS was functioning only in Shimla City. Now reportedly that dispensary also is not functioning. This is compelling the aged Pensioners to travel all the way to the neighbouring State of Punjab to take treatment at Chandigarh CGHS Dispensary. While travelling itself is problematic to aged and sick pensioners, they are forced to travel in hilly terrain for more than 250 Kilometers In addition there are no CGHS Centres at all in most of the North Eastern States (7 Sisters States) other than Assam. Any travel to CGHS centres means travelling only by air or to undergo a very long surface journey. In a condition of sickness, such a travel becomes meaningless. Similarly there are newly formed Revenue States that do not have CGHS Centres and Additional Director Offices in the State Capitals causing the beneficiaries to travel longer distances for treatment. We fervently request for (1) CGHS Centres in all States as a matter of policy; (2) Reopening of CGHS Dispensary in Shimla; and (3) opening of one more Dispensary at Dharamsala the second capital of H.P. These minimum steps will go a long way in providing additional care to the aged and sick pensioners. In addition expediting the sanction of suitable Medical Insurance Scheme to all Pensioners as recommended by 7th CPC will be a great step in the direction of providing medical attention to the sick and aged Pensioners. With sincere trust that these urgent issues will receive the kind attention of Honourable Prime Minister - K.Ragavendran General Secretary All India Postal and RMS Pensioners Association.

Reply received:

Current Status Case closed Date of Action 18/11/2018 Remarks The CGHS wellness centre at Shimla is functional and two senior doctors are posted there. Our reaction: We have raised several issues for redressal. But only one issue of Shimla CGHS Dispensary is attended to and replied. Fate of other issues? As the current status is “Case Closed”,  the fate of other issues is unknown! – KR GS AIPRPA