Central Government Health Scheme (C.G.H.S.) Dispensary: Why should they be referred to GH..

Appropos the news item in The Hindu on October 6 regarding functioning of C.G.H.S., I would like to add that for ailments coming under cardiac, neuro, E.N.T., ortho, diabetology, and so on, the CGHS beneficiaries have to go to State government general hospitals for getting opinion even though there are few approved referral hospitals. Retired pensioners who are aged and are not independent have to go to government hospitals and stand in a queue for hours to get the OP tickets for getting the advice for treatment and management.

Recently, the Union government has also increased the subscription rates for serving/retired Central government employees ranging from Rs. 50/- to Rs. 500/- per month according to the pay of pensioners. When the CGHS beneficiaries have paid the subscription prescribed by the Union government, why should they be referred to government hospitals?

The powers to refer the C.G.H.S. beneficiaries should be restored to CMOs in charge of the respective dispensaries.
Source: The Hindu

Anonymous said...
Yes. It is very necessary to change this system. My mother is an rheumatic arthritis patient. Once in every three months CGHS will refer her to GH for reference. In GH ortho dept. starting time is 8'o clock, but at 8'o clok itselt we can see a large queue and we have to stand in the queue for hours to consult the doctor. We are paying CGHS subscription. Some of the CGHS approved referral hospital are specialised in Cardiac, Ortho, ENT etc. We have to approach Govt. to issue an order to go to CGHS approved referrel hospitals for getting specialised opinion for the above long standing diseases.

Mr.Devender said...
definitely. This is the biggest shortcoming. Without 'specialist' recommendation, one would not get anything and the 'specialist' is sitting only in a government hospital. Depite paying heavy monthly subscription, the government, in the name of providing health facilities, make the person visit government hospitals which are already filled up with the visitors from neighbouring states.Recently, I am having continuous headache. The doctor at CGHS dispensary straightaway referred to a government hospital. Now, I am suffering since last month and gathering courage to visit the government hospital.
HOPE THE POLICY MAKERS UNDERSTAND AND REMOVE THIS BOTTLENECK.

Mr.Murthy said... It is needless to mention again and again by various employees that the system of referral to State Govt Hospital to be stopped since the existence or birth of CGHS Dispensary & other recognised private hospital came because of inadequacy of facilities and various other reasons wherein the government employee could not be put into inconvenience or no proper treatment. It is rediculous to refer the govt employee/dependents to the state govt hospital wherein it is everybody's knowledge that there are no proper facilities or the procedure is time consuming. It is again the same Doctor (MBBS)house surgeon who is not eexperienced much doing trails & errors on helpless patients, is looking into patient complaints and prescribing certain tests and other medicines. Therefore, CMO who is having good experience, should refer the matter to the recognised hospitals wherein clear indication of further professional treatement is required instead of State Govt Hospital. The discretionary powers are already vested with CMO which are conveniently misused without applying their mind. The Director/Asst Director is failed to take stock the situation inspite of several complaints because he is part of the stream. Generally, nobody is giving complaint in writing because the doctor may not like and future treatement is depending upon the same CMO and patient has no choice to see other doctor as is the case with CSMA. Therefore, it is high time to take decission of the competent authority to remove discretionary powers either to send state govt hospital or private recognised hospital since the present CMO's are not applying the mind and mechanically referring to state govt hospital without humanity. There should be a clause wherein the doctor is accountable for all the suffering due to transportation, time and mental agony because of their referral to state govt hospital wherein admission to hospital/or futher treatment/investigation was required and then it was referred to private hospital even though it is well known before referrring to state govt hospital.
In view of the above, the govt in consultation with the employees should study and make responsible the CMO posts who are whiling away their time and avoiding responsiblity by just referring the patient to State Govt Hospital