Plan panel wants to wind up ailing CGHS

NEW DELHI: Seeing a little possibility of revival of the ailing and corruption-ridden Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), the Planning Commission is suggesting that it be disbanded.
In its mid-term appraisal (MTA) of the 10th five-year plan, the Commission is all set to recommend a general health insurance scheme for Central government employees so that they don’t need to queue up at their local dispensaries only to return empty-handed as often crucial medicines are out of stock.
Under the general health insurance, the employees would have a choice of government and private hospitals to go to. Instead of funding the CGHS, the government would have to pay the employees’ premium.
The existing 300-odd CGHS dispensaries can be opened up for general public. "They can use the facilities and consult CGHS doctors by paying a nominal fees as they do in any other government hospital," said an official.
The suggestion made in the MTA will, however, only be formalised after it gets the approval of the full Planning Commission and the National Development Council. But with stories of corruption and inefficiency in the CGHS galore, plan panel officials are hopeful they will get the support for this idea.
Launched in the 1950s, the CGHS was introduced to replace the cumbersome and expensive system of reimbursements. The government decided to open separate dispensaries, exclusively for Central government employees. The dispensaries provide allopathic and non-allopathic treatment. In cases where treatment is not available at these dispensaries, patients can be referred to a select list of government and private hospitals.
There are about 44 lakh beneficaries that include Central government employees, pensioners, MPs, journalists and public sector workers.
While it has all been good on paper, the scheme has not been so effective in practice. The CBI has over the years unearthened many incidents of corruption and scams in the CGHS. There have been complaints related to lack of basic services. Long waiting periods, inadequate supplies of medicines, shortage of staff and poor conditions have been some other common complaints.
"Often the out-of-pocket expense made by the government employees is not reimbursed. The retired personnel are worst-hit," said an official.