The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a comprehensive health care entity established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India. This initiative provides comprehensive medical facilities to the Central Government employees, pensioners, and their dependents residing in CGHS-covered cities. CGHS’s ultimate aim is to offer comprehensive healthcare services to central government employees and their families. So, what healthcare services are covered under the Central Govt Health Scheme? To understand this, let’s delve deeper into the offerings that CGHS extends to its beneficiaries.
CGHS: A Comprehensive Health Scheme
Launched in 1954, CGHS has grown over time and now caters to the healthcare needs of thousands of beneficiaries across many cities. The beneficiaries include Central Government employees, pensioners, and their dependents, Members of Parliament, Judges of Supreme Court and High Court, Freedom Fighters, etc.
CGHS Coverage and Facilities
The healthcare services provided under CGHS include outpatient services, specialist consultations, hospitalization, investigations & diagnostic tests, provisions of medicines, maternity services, and health education to beneficiaries, among others. The Central Govt Health Scheme presents a comprehensive coverage that offers the following benefits to its enrollees:
- Outpatient Facilities: Under the scheme, beneficiaries are eligible for consultation with medical practitioners and specialists. The outpatient department at CGHS wellness centers offer a range of services, including medical consultations, infant & child care, antenatal care, and postnatal care.
- Dispensary Services: CGHS offers medicines to its beneficiaries through its network of wellness centres and dispensaries. As a part of this, allopathic, homeopathic, and ayurvedic medicines are dispensed.
- Specialist Consultations: CGHS provides its beneficiaries with access to specialist consultations, conducted at CGHS wellness centres and government hospitals. For serious ailments requiring specialist intervention, beneficiaries are referred to higher centres or panel hospitals.
- Investigation and Diagnostic Services: Under CGHS, various tests and investigations are performed, either at the wellness centres or at empanelled diagnostic centres. Services include laboratory tests, X-rays, and other diagnostic investigations.
- Hospitalization: For serious ailments requiring hospitalization, CGHS cardholders can get admitted in CGHS-empanelled hospitals and nursing homes, where a range of treatments and surgeries are carried out free of cost.
- Domiciliary/House Visits: In case of severe illness or incapacitation, CGHS provides domiciliary visits by medical practitioners to beneficiaries’ homes.
- Cashless Facility: CGHS offers a cashless facility for treatment in its empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres. In case of pensioners, freedom fighters, etc., a credit facility is offered to undergo treatment without paying any upfront fees.
- Maternity Services: Maternity services and family welfare services are part of the CGHS coverage. Antenatal and postnatal check-ups along with the provision of contraceptives are part of this coverage.
Govt Health Insurance 5 Lakh
Apart from CGHS, the government also launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), under which an annual health cover of up to INR 5 Lakhs per family is provided. This scheme operates as an insurance policy, offering free treatment to about 50 crore beneficiaries. It covers hospitalization, pre and post-hospitalization expenses, and specified day-care procedures. The scheme targets the poor and economically deprived families.
Conclusion
The comprehensive health services provided by the Central Govt Health Scheme are indeed a boon for its beneficiaries, making healthcare more accessible and affordable. Keeping in mind the rising healthcare costs, the security provided by CGHS and the government health insurance 5 lakh coverage are substantial provisions made by the Government of India. The primary purpose is to ensure that no citizen is deprived of health services due to financial constraints. The enrollees under these schemes can avail of quality healthcare facilities, thus promoting comprehensive health and wellness across the country. The inclusion of “health insurance” in these initiatives underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of its citizens, providing them with a safety net against unforeseen medical expenses.