Impacts of shift in treatment policy of CGHS: Rajya Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

RAJYA SABHA

ANSWERED ON  25.11.2014

(a) the marked difference in the present and earlier policy for medicines to be supplied and treatment to be rendered to the beneficiaries under the CGHS of Central Government; and

(b) the measures taken to overcome the inconveniences being caused due to shift in policy?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a): With a view to plug the loopholes in the system, the Government decided on 25.8.2014 that only CGHS formulary medicines and those approved by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in India would be provided to beneficiaries under CGHS. The maximum period of issued medicines was also curtailed to one month instead of three months. It was decided ibid that only listed investigations/treatments at prescribed CGHS rates would be allowed.

(b): The following measures have since been taken to overcome the inconvenience caused to the beneficiaries due to this shift in policy:

(i) The Government decided to adopt formularies of Ex- Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)also in addition to the existing CGHS formulary.

(ii) A technical committee under Chairmanship of Special DG has been constituted to consider inclusion/exclusion of medicines/ investigation/treatment/procedures /implant etc.

(iii) A Group of experts has been constituted on 25.9.2014 to review CGHS formulary to avoid denial of essential medicines to CGHS beneficiaries and revising the formulary.

(iv) Instructions have also been issued to CMOs In-charge vide Office Memorandum No. 2-2/2014/CGHS/PPT/CGHS-P dated 1.10.2014 to use their discretion to supply essential medicines to CGHS beneficiaries even though they do not figure in the formularies of CGHS/ECHS/ESIC.

(v) The Government also extended further relaxation to the beneficiaries by switching back to the previous arrangement regarding time period of issued medicines i.e. 3 months for chronic disease and 6 months in case of visit abroad.