Specialised treatment under CGHS now available at 36 hospitals

Over one lakh beneficiaries of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) will now be able to get specialised treatment for diseases like cancer and kidney ailments at city's 36 hospitals.

CGHS Additional Director Dr Eknath Kanade said after a meeting with United Trust of India (UTI) insurance company and doctors at seven CGHS dispensaries, a circular has been sent to the dispensaries to allow specialty treatment for CGHS beneficiaries at these hospitals. Earlier, there was a rush of patients to just one or two hospitals like Ruby Hall Clinic for specialised treatment. Now, general hospitals can provide specialised treatment.

There are 36 empanelled hospitals and four diagnostic centres where CGHS beneficiaries can get the treatment. These include hospitals like Ruby Hall Clinic, Jehangir Hospital, Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital, Noble Hospital, Sanjeevan Hospital, Deendayal Hospital, Lokmanya Hospital, Hardikar Hospital, Ranka Hospital, Sant Dnyaneshwar Hospital and National Institute of Ophthalmology, among others. The four diagnostic centres are Medinova, Medivision, N M Medical centre and Pai diagnostic centre.

"Barring cardiac and joint replacement treatment, other specialties like neurology, audiology, ophthalmology and others will now be available at general category hospitals," Kanade said. The city's seven CGHS dispensaries at Camp, Mangalwar Peth, Mukundnagar, Boys Battalion, Phule Nagar, Range Hills and Akurdi have been computerised and the procedure for distributing smart cards is under way.

While the procedure has been simplified, it basically entails getting a memo from the CGHS dispensary in-charge. If it is a minor problem like hernia or cataract operation, a patient can directly go the hospital of his/her choice. However as per rules, a government specialist's advice is also required. Kanade said owing to rush at just Sassoon Hospital, they have roped in specialists from YCM Hospital, Pimpri, Command Hospital and Aundh Hospital.

With UTI now stepping in as third party insurer, there has been a speedy payment of bills, said Kanade. But he admitted that hospitals like KEM, Deenanath Mangeshkar and Poona Hospital, along with diagnostic centres like Golwilkar's, have not shown interest in getting empanelled with CGHS.

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