CGHS -
IMPORTANAT
Advisory
from the Additional Director, CGHS, Bengaluru to the Pensioner beneficiaries
Dr.Revathi
M , A D , CGHS , spoke to S Radhakrishna Secretary over the phone on 2
July 2020.
Dr.
Revathi AD CGHS expressing her serious concern towards the welfare of
beneficiaries, specially the senior and very senior beneficiaries, in
view of the present alarming Pandemic COVID- 19 situation in
the city , with the number of virus infected people getting bigger day by day,
which includes many CGHS beneficiaries also, she made an impassioned
appeal to all to take utmost care in their health and stay home unless
needed to go out for reasons of health requiring immediate medical
attention in case of an emergency. The following are some of the advices
given by the AD and information given on facilities available under CGHS.
1.
Beneficiaries
above the age of 65 years, need not visit the CHHS Wellness Centres for
collecting repeat medicines. They may send a member of the family or any one
authorised by them who is young to collect the medicines. Medicines
for 3 months will be issued
2.
Routine
Tests which are not of urgent nature may be postponed for the present.
3.
It is
noticed that old couple are attending WCs together for collecting
medicines which is not at all advisable
4.
Telemedicine
facility has been started as a pilot project in CGHS Bangalore for
beneficiaries above 60 years of age.
Ø WC- 6,
Jayanagar and WC-10, C V Raman Nagar, have been identified for Telemedicine.
Will be extended to other WCs if feasible.
Ø Beneficiaries
can consult doctors at the two WCs by seeking appointment online.
Ø The
doctors will respond to the queries online and the beneficiary will get the
prescription online to his registered email id.
Ø The
medicines prescribed can be collected in person or through any one authorised
by the beneficiary within 4 days.
5.
If they
cannot send someone to fetch medicines for them, they can purchase the
medicines locally and claim reimbursement of the cost of OPD medicines.
6.
The last
date for local purchase of medicines has been extended up to 31st July, 2020.
So, medicines required for the months upto September 2020 can be purchased
locally before this month end.
7.
Time
limit for submission of claims for reimbursement has been increased to 6 months
now. Further, in deserving cases, the time limit can be extended by another 6
months under the discretion of the AD.
8.
The
validity of CGHS cards of those pensioner beneficiaries who contribute the
subscription on annual basis, cards valid upto 31.3.20 and thereafter is
extended up to 31.7.2020. Similarly, the validity of the cards of serving
employees who retired on 31.3.20 and thereafter will be extended up to 31st
July, 2020 on their request Therefore, they need not rush to CGHS Office for
getting a new CGHS Pensioner card.
ON
COVID-19
TREATMENT
On my
request to her, to enlighten us about the facilities available under
CGHS , for treatment of beneficiaries afflicted with the
virus Covid-19, she stated as below.
a)
Beneficiaries
having symptoms of Covid-19, like fever, cough etc. need not go to the CGHS WC
but must directly report to the fever clinic identified by the State
government/ local body for advice and allotment of bed in the hospital
providing treatment for Covid-19 infection.
b)
Beneficiary
or their wards need not go to the CGHS WCs for getting a referral for admission
in to a private hospital identified by the State government
for Covid-19 treatment.
c)
On
allotment of a bed in any of the private hospitals EMPANELED under
CGHS, the beneficiary will be provided with CREDIT FACILITY by the empaneled hospital as per existing CGHS norms. Necessary instructions
have been issued to empaneled hospitals.
d)
If a bed
is allotted in a private hospital NOT EMPANELED UNDER CGHS, and the
beneficiary is admitted there for treatment, the case will be treated as
'medical treatment in emergency ' and the beneficiary will get reimbursement of
the medical expenditure at the rates approved by the government.
e)
Beneficiaries,
in case of any difficulty faced for admission in private hospitals, may contact
the Sr CMO I/C of their Wellness Centre over the phone or
the Nodal officer, Dr Ravindra at CGHS office. Difficulty arises
only if they go to the hospitals on their own. If they go through the
designated fever clinics it would be easy for them to get the required medical
attention.
GENERAL
a.
Seniors
should avoid going out for purchase of groceries, vegetables, fruits etc. One
member of the family can get the essential items from the market instead of
many shopping together. Daily outgoings for purchases should be avoided.
b.
Strict
social distancing must be ensured when there is absolute necessity of going
out.
c.
Hand
hygiene is very important to ward off any infection.
d.
Prevention
is better than cure.
Stay home Stay Safe
S Radhakrishna
