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 on 14/12/2013.
Source:pib
