Will act if hospitals deny Covid care to beneficiaries of CGHS: Govt

NEW DELHI: Hospitals denying Covid-19 treatment under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) will face action, the health ministry warned after beneficiaries of the scheme complained of difficulties in availing treatment at private hospitals.
The ministry issued an order to all health organisations empanelled under CGHS for strict adherence to stipulated guidelines. As per the order, all CGHS empanelled hospitals notified as Covid hospitals by state governments shall provide treatment to such beneficiaries as per norms for all Covid-related treatments.
Similarly, CGHS empanelled hospitals which are not notified as Covid hospitals shall not deny treatment facilities and admission to CGHS beneficiaries and shall charge as per CGHS norms for all other treatments, the order said.
It added that action would be taken in case of violations. The warning follows the heath ministry reviewing representations from CGHS beneficiaries on difficulties in availing treatment at private hospitals and diagnostic centres empanelled under the scheme.
Under CGHS, government employees can avail cashless diagnostics and treatment at hospitals, which send the bills directly to the government. For this, hospitals and CGHS enter into an agreement for a certain period, under which the price for each medical procedure is put down.