December 8, 2022
Jawhar Sircar raised the issue of raising the rates of reimbursement for treatments made under CGHS, during Zero Hour
Sir, I thank you for the opportunity. I wish to draw the special attention of the House towards the dire necessity of increasing the rates of reimbursement of treatment, medical tests and equipments under the Central Government Health Scheme.As you are aware, Sir, about two crore people are involved, including the Members of this House, who avail themselves of the facilities. Unfortunately, these rates were fixed about eight to ten years ago. I will just give a small example. The scales of payment fixed by the CGHS are totally unsatisfactory and below market rates. For example, Root Canal Treatment (RCT) of the tooth costs Rs.8,000 in the market and the amount reimbursed is Rs.500 only. That’s all. A somnographic test for sleep apnea is fixed by clinics all over India at Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,000, but the reimbursement given by the CGHS is Rs.638. This is not only irrational, but this is totally unjust. It is the due of the Members of this House and it is the due of about two crore Government employees and pensioners. Lumbar puncture costs Rs.8,000 to Rs.10,000,
but the CGHS gives Rs.600. I can go on giving more examples. I wish to raise it in this House because this gross injustice needs to be contested and we need a resolution to prevail upon the Health and Finance Ministries to revisit these rates to make it somewhere logical. They are quite a joke now.With these words, I conclude. Thank you, Sir.
