OPD Treatment in private empanelled hospitals regarding – RSCWS writes to Director General, Railway Health Services
RAILWAY SENIOR CITIZENS WELFARE SOIETY
(Estd. 1991, Regd. No. 1881 – Under Registration of Societies Act)
Head Office: 32, Phase- 6, Mohali-160055
No.RSCWS/HO/CHD/P/Memo-Medical/01/2021-1
Dated: 12th Jan 2021
Director General (Railway Health Services)
Railway Board, Rail Bhawan, New Delhi-110001
(CC by e-mail to: DG RHS <[email protected]> )
Dear Sir,
Sub: Improvement of Health Delivery System and Emergency Treatment in (Railway) Empanelled Private Hospitals
—Regarding OPD Treatment in private empanelled hospitals
Ref: Railway Board’s Letter No. 2018/TransCell/Health/ CGHS(eoff. No. 3270783) Dated 28/12/2020, Para 9).
1.1 As a part of improvement of health delivery system, one very appreciable point regarding OPD treatment, has been covered vide para 9 of letter under reference and that would be especially beneficial to pensioners.
1.2 But this aspect is with respect to railway empanelled hospitals only. This facility is already being availed by railway medical beneficiaries, simply on production of their Cards or RELHS cards or even PPO copies etc
2.1 As per extant practice, OPD treatment from private empanelled hospitals is not permitted to railway pensioners ; so the interested railway beneficiaries have to directly approach and get treatment, at their own cost, from specialists of Railways/ CGHS /ECHS empanelled private hospitals.
2.2 But the big drawback is that Railways empanel much lesser number of all the Hospitals and Diagnostic centres which are empanelled under CGHS/ECHS. For example, in Chandigarh tricity area, which comprises of UT Chandigarh and Mohali & Panchkula districts, where best of medical facilities are available, the CGHS empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres , respectively are 28 & 08 numbers , whereas Railways have empanelled only 06 hospitals & 02 diagnostic centres.
3.1 The non-railway covered CGHS/ECHS empanelled hospitals & diagnostic labs do not entertain railway beneficiaries at CGHS/ECHS rates. The pensioners, particularly those living away from the locations of railway hospitals ,would like to avail OPD medical facilities , at their own cost, from any of the CGHS/ECHS specialists/super specialists of their choice or nearest to their places of residence.
3.2 Secondly railway pensioners, especially those in the 70+ age group, are required to go in for different medical tests periodically, related to their specific health conditions. They cannot afford to travel to far off railway hospital locations to get these tests done. Even in railway hospitals , specialised test facilities are not available; so the railway doctors refer them to empanelled local labs; all this process causes so much harassment to the elderly persons.
4.1 Thus it would be desirable to co-ordinate with CGHS & ECHS authorities, may be through the Min of Health & Family Welfare, to issue directives to all their empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres ,to provide treatment investigation to all bona fide central government medical beneficiaries, particularly pensioners of indian Railways, at CGHS/ECHS rates, for OPD and IPD treatments & diagnostics. Their identity may be got verified by any means —pensioner ID card, RELHS card , UMID or CTSE cards.
4.2 After all Railways is also central government with the difference that we have our own separate medical set up; so has the defence ministry but they cover all CGHS/ESIC hospitals & diagnostic labs plus some more.
4.3 This will have absolutely no financial or workload impact on railway hospitals; rather the burden on rail hospitals would be reduced with railway beneficiaries diverting themselves to private empanelled hospitals.
It is therefore earnestly requested that instructions may kindly be got issued in respect of 4.1 above.
(T S Kalra)
(Retd) CEE & President, RSCWS
Copies to:
Dr Vijay Kumar, Principal Ex. Dir, Health, RB ([email protected])
Shri Umesh Balonda, ED(S&T), Transformation Cell, RB ([email protected])
Sh Ajeet kumar Srivastava, Ex. Dir, Accounts, Tranfn Cell, RB([email protected])
-T S Kalra-
RSCWS
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