Dispensaries in Amritsar, Jalandhar to be under CGHS

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 11

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to include postal dispensaries in Amritsar and Jalandhar under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

The existing facilities and infrastructure like building, furniture and equipment will be covered under the scheme on ‘as is where is’ basis by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

It will be the onus of the department to bear the entire expenditure required to establish these dispensaries and provide facilities like OPD, medicines and medical consultation.

The Central government employees, pensioners and other beneficiaries who served in Telecom, Postal, Railways, Civil Aviation, Central police force, Provident Fund and Income Tax Departments will get cashless medical facility at empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres. The pensioners will also be entitled for reimbursement of hearing aids and other health equipment covered under the scheme.

Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik said it was a New Year gift from the Centre to lakhs of working and retired Central government employees in Punjab.

“I got an approval letter from the Health Ministry. The merger of postal dispensaries of Amritsar and Jalandhar will provide comprehensive healthcare to lakhs of beneficiaries residing in Majha and Doaba regions. Earlier, they had to go to empanelled hospitals in Mohali to get medical aid, redressal of medical disputes and for reimbursement. But now, they will get these facilities in Amritsar and Jalandhar. The modalities to earmark the hospitals and diagnostic centres are under process,” he said.