Govt to empanel 70 new hospitals,labs in CGHS; may lower rates

Beneficiaries under the Central Government Health Scheme will soon have many more healthcare service options to choose from in the national capital region.
The Health Ministry is in the process of reviewing the list of private hospitals, dental clinics and diagnostic facilities empanelled with the government under the scheme to enable central government employees to avail healthcare services in the private sector.
Sources in the Ministry said the current review would lead to an addition of at least 70 more private hospitals, eyecare centres and diagnostic facilities under the scheme which currently allows government employees to access services at 130 empanelled hospitals.

Around 10 new super and multispeciality hospitals, an equal number of mid segment general purpose hospitals, 33 eye care centres, 10 dental clinics and 10 laboratories in the NCR are in the process of being empanelled under the scheme. Following the revision, the total number of CGHS empanelled hospitals in NCR would grow to 200.
Among the new hospitals being added are BL Kapoor Super Speciality Hospital, Max Hospitals at Patparganj and Shalimar Bagh, Batra Hospital near Okhla, Rockland Hospital in South Delhi, and Saroj Hospital in Rohini.
In addition, some hospitals offering limited services for endoscopy and cardiology are also being empanelled for employees to have a wider choice of healthcare facilities.

The Health Ministry separately is also in the process of reviewing CGHS rates for various medical facilities availed at empanelled hospitals under the scheme. Indications are that rates will be further lowered for the benefit of central government employees.
Recent rationalisation of rates of various treatments and alleged delay in payments resulted in some top private hospitals withdrawing from the list of CGHS empanelled hospitals.