(a) whether the Government is aware that the ex-servicemen are getting the smart card on the basis of their basic pension that entail them the facilities of medical treatment at 24 hospitals and diagnostic centers in Delhi including Appolo, Batra and Escorts Heart Hospitals;
(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to formulate any scheme for the employees of the Central Government/State Government on the lines of this card; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)
(a) All members (irrespective of the amount of pension they get from the Govt.) of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) are issued Smart cards as proof of being an eligible ECHS member for availing medical facilities at ECHS polyclinics or at the ECHS empanelled private Hospitals which includes Apollo, Batra and Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi and the treatment given to the ECHS beneficiaries would be as per Govt. approved procedures. Payments to the ECHS empanelled private hospitals are made directly by the concerned Station Headquarters subject to the Govt. approved ceiling rates.
(b) & (c) As Health is a State subject, medical facilities to the State Govt. employees are to be extended by the concerned State Govts.
The Central Govt. employees are extended medical facilities through the Central Govt. Health Scheme (CGHS) and all the members of the CGHS are issued with a CGHS card. Nearly 700 private hospitals/diagnostic centers have been recognized under CGHS in CGHS-covered cities.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed by Director (CGHS) on behalf of the President of India with the authorised signatory of the CGHS recognized private hospitals/diagnostic centers which inter-alia stipulates that in the case of an emergency, the recognized private hospital shall not refuse admission or demand advance from the CGHS beneficiary and shall provide credit facilities to the concerned patient on the production of a valid CGHS card. The CGHS recognized private hospitals/diagnostic centers shall submit their bills for reimbursement as per the CGHS approved ceiling rates for various medical procedures/tests/investigations to the concerned Department in the case of serving employees and to the office of the concerned Additional Director, CGHS in the case of pensioner beneficiaries.
For Non-emergency cases, on production of a valid permission letter from the CMO In-charge of the CGHS dispensary, the recognized private hospital/diagnostic center shall provide credit facility to the CGHS Pensioner cardholders.