sans referral letterNew Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Beneficiaries of the CentralGovernment Health Scheme (CGHS) can now undergo treatment atany empanelled private hospital without the requirement of areferral or permission letter.
The decision was taken after the health ministry receiveda lot of representations for simplification of procedures forundergoing treatment at private hospitals empanelled under thescheme.
Earlier, central government employees and theirdependents could undergo specific treatment procedures atprivate hospitals after being prescribed by medical officersunder the scheme.
"It has now been decided that CGHS beneficiaries areallowed to undergo treatment at private hospitals empanelledunder the CGHS of specific treatment procedures listed underCGHS rate list...without any requirement of any other referral(permission) letter," according to an order issued by thehealth ministry.
According to an office memorandum which has been issuedto all the ministries and departments of the centralgovernment, private empanelled hospitals shall perform thetreatment on cashless basis in respect of pensioners, formerparliamentarians, freedom fighters and regular employees whoare at present eligible for credit facility.
"They shall enclose the prescription issued by governmentspecialist or a CGHS medical officer in original, along withthe hospital bill submitted to the competent authorities,"said the order.
Previously, one had to consult at a local dispensary,from where the patient had to be referred to a biggergovernment hospital where, with the permission of aspecialist, the paperwork had to be done to avail thetreatment at a CGHS-empanelled private hospital or refer thebeneficiaries to any particular hospital, according to the neworder. PTI PLBSMN.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.