Govt Employees get “Cashless Health Cards” as Diwali Gifts

Hyderabad, Nov 3: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy announced a ‘Diwali Gift’ for all the government employees, pensioners and their family members. He asked the officials to immediately launch ‘cashless health cards’ scheme, first of its kind in the country, to all the 14 lakh government employees, pensioners and their family members (about 70 lakh) in the State.

The Chief Minister reviewed the scheme at the camp office on Friday night. Ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy and Kondru Murali, Chief Secretary Dr P.K.Mohanty and other senior officials attended. About 1885 procedures will be in the scheme in both private and government hospitals network all over the State. A sum of Rs 400 crores will be spent on this scheme per annum. The Chief Minister said that the ‘EHS’ card is very enabling provision for easy, hassle-free treatment. He also said that scheme will be reviewed after six months if necessary shortcomings to be resolved and additional treatments to be added.

The Chief Minister approved the new cashless, seamless and transparent Healthcare scheme for the State Government Employees, Pensioners and their families.

The main objective of the scheme is to provide healthcare to the State Government Employees, Pensioners and their dependent family members through a cashless, seamless and transparent scheme. State Government Employees, all employees of local bodies, Pensioners including re-employed pensioners, family pensioners and their dependent family members will be benefitted by the scheme. 1885 treatment procedures available in empanelled hospitals (both Government and private) 60 per cent of total amount to be borne by Government and 40 per cent by the Employee/ Pensioner contribution. Monthly contribution from the employees/pensioners will be Rs 90 per month for slabs A & B and Rs 120 per month pm for Slab-C, depending on pay scales.

Aarogyasri Healthcare Trust will implement the Scheme. The Steering Committee headed by Chief Secretary will monitor the scheme from time to time. The implementation of the scheme will be reviewed after six months for further fine tuning. The implementation of the Scheme may cost about Rs 400 crores per year.

- INN