The Health ministry has, in a notification, issued new guidleines for CGHS doctors in three areas - referring cases for tests and follow-up treatment in private recognised hospitals, giving permission for purchase of certain kinds of equipment and devices and granting approval to those who sought private hospital treatment during an emergency without prior permission.

Permission for tests or procedures costing upto Rs 20,000 can now be granted by the head of department (HoD) for serving employees, and head of CGHS for pensioners on recommendation of a government specialist, an official release said today.

Reimbursement in such cases is limited to the all Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) rates.

In case a certain treatment is not available in a city, heads of CGHS inthat city can recommend treatment in any other city on specific advice from a government specialist. Travel allowance in such cases will be limited upto the referral hospital of the nearest city by the shortest route.

For pensioners in satellite towns of Delhi, the chief medical officer of the dispensary is now authorised to refer their cases for tests or procedures in private recognised hospitals, the release said.