News on Central Government Health Scheme in Indian Express 17 07 09

IN a bid to make the Central Government Health Scheme more accessible to Central Government employees, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is ready with a slew of measures to revamp the scheme. The Government has not only proposed that sample collection services for various tests be available at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries but that reports may also be viewed online. "Hindustan Lever Limited will provide sample collection services. Along with their card numbers, the beneficiaries will be given a password which will help them in viewing their reports online sitting at home," said Dr S Bhattacharjee, Additional Director, CGHS.
The ministry has also recently got the nod from the Cabinet to empanel any state of-the-art hospitals located outside the cities covered by CGHS. "The Ministry is soon going to float another tender to empanel more hospitals.
The last tender was floated in 2006. There are no specialized hospitals for diseases like cancer, which will be taken care of this time even if they are outside the CGHS cities," Health Secretary, Naresh Dayal told The Indian Express.
The Government is also planning to do away with the time-consuming "referral letter" system where the patient is required to obtain a referral letter from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) before being able to avail of services at CGHS-empanelled hospitals.
The alarming rise in lifestyle diseases has prompted the Ministry into looking at introducing free prevention health check-ups for all the beneficiaries aged 40 years and above.
The dispensaries will also be equipped with dialysis units, ultrasound machines and X-ray machines. "We are entering into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Apollo hospitals which will provide instruments for dialysis. The dialysis will be done at as low a rate as Rs 1500," added Dr Bhattacharjee.
Moreover, since CGHS dispensaries are currently restricted to 25 cities, the Government has begun work on a health insurance scheme for Central Government employees after the Sixth Pay Commission recommendation last year. While, the Union Health ministry says that it is practically not possible to provide CGHS dispensaries in other cities, keeping in view the shortage of infrastructure, it has decided to make available the option of health insurance for government employees in non-CGHS areas. About 12 private companies have already sent their Expressions of Interest for the scheme.