The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday directed that all Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) empanelled hospitals, notified as COVID-19 hospitals by State governments, will provide treatment to the scheme beneficiaries.
The Ministry also pointed out that Central teams for COVID-19 management have been deputed to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Bengaluru to work along with local governments, .
It said, “The teams will undertake visits to these places within the next one week to review public health measures being undertaken for COVID-19. They will submit daily reports of the activities undertaken to the State health departments and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. They will inform them about any issue of urgent importance and also submit a report of their observations and suggestions before concluding the visits’’.
The teams are being deputed to provide technical support and handhold the State health departments and municipal health officials to review public health measures being undertaken for COVID-19 management.
The Ministry order on Wednesday to all empanelled Health Care Organizations (HCOs) follows representations from the CGHS beneficiaries on the difficulties they face in availing treatment at such private hospitals/diagnostic centres.
As per the order, the empanelled hospitals shall provide treatment facilities to the beneficiaries as per the CGHS norms for all COVID-19-related treatments.
“Similarly, it is directed that all the CGHS empanelled hospitals, which are not notified as COVID-19 hospitals shall not deny treatment facilities/admission to CGHS beneficiaries and shall charge as per the CGHS norms, for all other treatments. Action shall be taken in case of violation of the guidelines,” said a release issued by the Ministry.