New Delhi (NVI): The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) services will be extended to 100 cities including Itanagar, Kannur, and Kozhikode, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan said.
Speaking while inaugurating the new CGHS Wellness Centre at Vikaspuri here today Harsh Vardhan said, “At present the scheme is operational across 72 cities through 329 allopathic wellness centres and 86 AYUSH centres. It serves 12.9 lakh primary cardholders and 35.72 lakh beneficiaries, out of which around 17 lakh belong to Delhi-NCR,” he said.
“There are more than 2.5 lakh beneficiaries aged 75 years and above. About 58 per cent of CGHS beneficiaries avail of CGHS facilities at least once a year,” he added.
“It is sad that the people of Delhi have been deprived of the invaluable tertiary health services under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, which have benefitted more than 69 lakh people from various parts of the country through more than 19,000 empanelled hospitals,” the Minister said.
The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a contributory health scheme for serving and retired Central Government employees and their dependent family members.
The scheme was started in 1954 in Delhi. It provides comprehensive health care facilities to the beneficiaries that include OPD Consultation from CGHS Medical Officers and specialists, issue of medicines, investigations at Government hospitals and private empanelled centres, specialist consultation and hospitalization at Government and private empanelled hospitals.