CGHS services revamp for government employees: Ahead of the Union Budget 2025, the Staff Side of the National Council Joint Consultative Machinery (NC JCM), representing millions of central government staff, has urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to implement the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petitions regarding Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facilities.
The JCM scheme ensures good cooperation between the government and its employees. The National Council is the apex body in the JCM scheme. The Staff Side of NC JCM is a group of representatives of central government employees who negotiate with the official side to resolve disputes.
NC JCM seeks measures for improved CGHS services
The NC JCM has called to address critical issues faced by employees and pensioners related to CGHS services, and the body has also asked the FM to include these measures in the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26 announcements.
Also read: Govt employees attention! New CGHS guidelines issued for hospitals – Details inside
Parliamentary recommendations for CGHS
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petitions, in its 162nd report presented to the Rajya Sabha on August 10, 2023, made several recommendations for improving CGHS services. These recommendations stemmed from a petition titled “Praying for comprehensive medical facilities to central government employees, pensioners, and their dependents.”
Parliamentary panel’s key proposals:
-Eliminating the need for patients to revisit CGHS doctors after receiving referrals for prescribed treatments or investigations.
-Settling complaints against empanelled hospitals charging excess fees from beneficiaries.
-Revising CGHS rates to reflect current market conditions.
-Addressing the shortage of doctors and improving staff attitudes toward patients.
-Ensuring the availability of all types of medicines at CGHS wellness centres.
-Improve Wellness Center infrastructure and construct dedicated buildings to house them.
-Relaxing norms to set up new wellness centres, especially in newer towns, at a faster pace.
-Allowing retired employees and their dependents to access CGHS benefits more conveniently.
-Establishing additional AYUSH Wellness Centers in emerging cities and popularizing Indian systems of medicine.
Parliamentary panel suggests a Pan-India committee
To further enhance CGHS functioning, the Parliamentary Committee suggested forming a pan-India committee comprising doctors, beneficiaries, and Members of Parliament. This committee would conduct a thorough review of CGHS operations and submit actionable recommendations on improving the scheme’s overall effectiveness.
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