CGHS - All empanelled private hospitals are required to provide credit facilities to the CGHS beneficiaries in case of emergency

CGHS is basically providing the dispensary services through its Wellness Centres manned by the General Duty Medical Officers. However, CGHS also provides the services of medical specialists through the Polyclinics and Central Government hospitals. In addition, the CGHS medical specialists also visit designated dispensaries on stipulated days in each week to provide medical consultation to the beneficiaries. Due to shortage of specialists in CGHS it is practically not feasible and financially viable to provide Specialist facilities in each CGHS Wellness Centre. Moreover, CGHS is also engaging contractual specialists against the vacant posts of specialists to provide the medical consultation services to its beneficiaries. CGHS has a dedicated wing of specialists at the Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi for its beneficiaries. The CGHS beneficiaries are also allowed to consult specialists at Dr. RML Hospital and other Government hospitals in NCR in respective specialties. In addition, CGHS has empanelled a large number of private hospitals to provide inpatient medical care to its beneficiaries on the advice of Government specialists.

Also, as per the Terms & Conditions for empanelment under CGHS, all empanelled private hospitals are required to provide credit facilities to the CGHS beneficiaries in case of emergency. Pensioners and other specified category of beneficiaries are entitled for credit facilities under normal circumstances also. Non-compliance of the said provision attracts penalty as per the Memorandum of Agreement signed by them.

This was stated by Sh Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB