NCCPA WRITES TO JCM STAFF SIDE SECRETARY ON CGHS FOR ONWARD TRANSMISSION TO HEALTH SECRETARY
After discussion in the National Executive of NCCPA through Video Conference and based on consultations within AIRPA CMC Members, we addressed a letter to NCCPA SG on CGHS related issues.
Now, the Secretary General NCCPA has preferred the following letter to JCM Staff Side Secretary / NCCPA President for onward transmission to Health Secretary GOI
NATIONAL
CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
OF PENSIONERS
ASSOCIATIONS..
Website:
nccpahq.blogspot.in.
E mail:
nccpahq@gmail.com.
13.c Feroze Shah Road,
New Delhi. 110 001
PRESIDENT:
COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)
SECY.GENERAL:
COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)
Dated: 10th August,
2020
Dear Comrade,
Kindly
refer to the discussions, we had at the NE meting of the NCCPA, which you presided over. On the basis of the feed back, I have
prepared a draft letter to be sent to the Secretary, Pension, GOI, New
Delhi. I am sending the same along
with. Kindly go through the same and
send the letter to the Secretary if you find
it alright.
With
greetings,
Yours
fraternally,
K.K.N.
Kutty
Secretary
General.
(Draft letter)
To
The Secretary, Health
Government of India,
Sardar Patel Bhawan,
New Delhi. 110 001
Dear Sir,
Sub: Problems and difficulties encountered by the beneficiaries of Central
Government Health Scheme.
We detail
hereunder certain issues pertaining to the difficulties encountered by the
beneficiaries of CGHS both the pensioners and the working employees. We solicit your kind attention to the
minutes of the last meeting, the JCM Staff Side had with your predecessor when
some of the issues were discussed. It
was agreed that the periodical meeting to resolve the problems of beneficiaries
of CHGS would be convened to subject these maters to discussion and resolution
thereof. We shall be grateful if such a
meeting is convened as early as possible so that these issues along with the
pending matters could be discussed and
amicable settlement reached.
1.
Consultation with
Specialists:
Many beneficiaries, mostly the pensioners,
require constant consultation with the specialists, especially those requiring
treatment from cardiologists, Urologists, Nephrologists, Ophthalmologists,
Paediatrician, Gynaecologists etc.
Except on the initial occasion, a reference from the doctors of the
concerned dispensaries may be dispensed with.
They may be allowed to have direct consultation with the specialists
from the empanelled lists. The
beneficiaries may also be allowed to seek consultation with the specialists
from their private clinics and consultation rooms.
2.
Private hospitals are
recognised for in-patient treatment for the benefit of the CGEs working in
non-CGHS localities. These hospitals may
be recognised for in- patient treatment of CGHS beneficiaries on the basis of a
pre determined charges.
3.
The treatment of Covid-19 patients
in Private hospitals are now permitted.
It is stated that the concerned State Governments must in consultation with the Private
Hospital Associations, fix the charges for various treatments connected with
Covid-19. While some of the State Government
have done this, many are yet to enter into such agreements. Wherever, such
agreements are not entered, the CGHS beneficiaries are made to suffer. The
private hospitals charge exhorbitantly
and the Government has decided to reimburse only at the rate agreed upon
by the State Government or What the Delhi Govt. Has stipulated. The employees and pensioners should not be
made to suffer on account of the non adherence of the instructions and
directives of the Government of India by the private hospitals especially in the pandemic situation. The Government has to arm itself with the powers even to close down such hospitals which do not
abide by the directive of the Government or else the beneficiaries be
reimbursed with the full amount they had paid to the private hospitals.
4.
Many pensioner beneficiaries
have complained of the inordinate delay in settling the bills submitted for
reimbursement. It is requested that the
Government must fix a time frame say one month
for scrutiny and payment of the bills.
Any delay beyond the stipulated period must bear interest to be
recovered from the person responsible for the delay.
5.
In many CGHS dispensaries, the
services of a Gynaecologist is seldom available. It is appreciated that it might not be
possible at all time. In such cases, our
suggestion is that the Government should recognise a panel of
Gynaecologists in such towns. The beneficiaries may be permitted to have
consultation with them by payment of the prescribed fees, which might be
reimbursed.
6.
The CGHS took over the Postal
dispensaries . However, there is acute shortage of staff in these
dispensaries. The shortage threatens the
very functioning of these units. It is
requested that the concerned Addl. Directors may be permitted to recruit personnel
on temporary basis till permanent arrangements are made.
7.
The North Eastern Region is a
far flung area with difficult terrain with little travel and communication
facilities. To cater to the requirement of the pensioners and employees of this
vast region, presently there is only one CGHS centre located at Guwahati. Taking into account the very peculiar
situation in this region, the Government may kindly consider setting up
dispensaries or CGHS centres in all the State capitals of the NE Region.
8.
The number of units under CGHS which practices the alternate
medical systems, viz. Ayurveda, Homeopathy, unani etc. Is very few. Of late the people have started evincing confidence
in the alternate medical system. Some of
the medicines prescribed under those systems have been found to be very
effective in curing certain chronic diseases.
It is, therefore, requested that more and more units under the alternate
medical system is opened at CGHS centres. It is also reported that certain medical preparations
are available in the alternate medical
system, which boosts the immunity system.
The veracity of this may please be enquired and if found to be
appropriate, the Doctors may be allowed to prescribe those remedies in the
treatment of Covid19.
9.
In the State of Madhya Pradesh
and Andhra Pradesh and in certain other States too, there are no offices of the
Additional Directors. The absence of an
Additional Director creates difficulties
to the beneficiaries, especially the pensioners. We request that a policy decision
may be taken to have the office of the Additional Director CGHS at all State
Capitals.
10.
The wellness centre at
Vijayawada, in Andhra Pradesh is presently located in a building owned by the
City Corporation. As part of the
renovation exercise, the space occupied
by the CGHS dispensary has become unfit for its functioning. There is no water supply and the washrooms are demolished. The Centre has to be shifted at-least
temporarily and the Pensioners
Association at Vijayawada has suggested to shift the dispensary to the vacant
BSNL. Quarters. We request you to kindly
direct the concerned Additional Director to make arrangements for the shifting
of the dispensary.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Shiv Gopal Misra,
Secretary Staff Side JCM.
