Lok Sabha Question No. 5524 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Poor Functioning of CGHS Dispensaries
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Raja Amareshwara Naik, Sukanta Majumdar, Vinod Kumar Sonkar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5524 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 TH JULY, 2019

## POOR FUNCTIONING OF CGHS DISPENSARIES

## 5524. SHRI RAJA AMARESHWARA NAIK: DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR: SHRI VINOD KUMAR SONKAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of poor condition of functioning of CGHS Dispensar including Pitampura, Delhi due to malfunctio ning of server, depleted strength and absence of Doctors/staff,  discontinuation  of  visit  of  Medical  specialists,  lack  of  infrastru nonavailability of medicines daily, long queue of patients, etc.;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  received  a number  of  complaints  regarding  poor functioning of CGHS in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof in Delhi, dispensary - wise and the reasons therefor along with the action taken by the Government on such complaints so far during the last three years ; and
- (d) the other steps taken by the Government to improve the functioning of CGHS dispensari the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (d): Government receives feedback from various sources including CGHS beneficiaries about various aspects of functioning of Centre Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and CGHS Wellness Centres including on issues concerning breakdown in connectivity, shortage of aff, long queues and waiting period, interruptions in services of visiting Specialists, etc. F received is regularly monitored for taking appropriate corrective action and br improvement in the functioning of CGHS and CGHS Wellness Centres.

Contd……..

Government have taken a number of  steps to improve the functioning of CGHS Wellness Centres, as under: -

- (i) During the last one  year, the network of CGHS Wellness Centres has been expande from 33 CGHS covered cities to 70 CGHS covered ci ties by merging Postal Dispensaries in CGHS.
- (ii) Government has  approved opening of 27 new  Homeopathic and 26 Ayurvedic CGHS Units to provide better services to more eligible CGHS beneficiaries.
- (iii) To  facilitate  CGHS  beneficiaries,  SMS  alerts  service  has  been  initiated  for  o appointment and dispensation of medicines at Wellness Centres.
- (iv) Provision has been made for online registration to consult Medical officers at We Centres to bring dow n the waiting period.
- (v) Option has been provided to CGHS beneficiaries to avail Specialist consultation CGHS empanelled hospitals after referral from CGHS Wellness Centre.
- (vi) CGHS has taken steps to procure generic formulary medicines through HLL Life Car e Ltd., as an interim measure, to augment the availability of medicines at CGHS Well Centres.  Additional    Directors  of  CGHS  have  been  authorized  to  procure  dai requirement of generic formulary medicines at Jana Aushadhi rates through HLL Li Care Lt d.,
- (vii) Process  for  procurement  through  GeM  to  strengthen  the  infrastructure  at  Welln Centres.
- (viii) CGHS  beneficiaries  aged  75  years  and  above  are  permitted  to  consult  Specialists empanelled private without referral.
- (ix) The  shortage  of  pharmacists  has  been  brou ght  down  through  fresh  recruitment  of Pharmacists.
- (x) Retired Doctors are engaged on contractual basis against vacant posts of regular Me officers to ensure uninterrupted medical services to the beneficiaries.

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