 Organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | |
| Organisation Overview | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CGHS |
| Formed | July 1, 1954 |
| Country | India |
| Parent agency | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare |
| Budget | ₹2,370 crore (US$280 million) (2025–26) |
| Website | https://cghs.gov.in/ |
| Organisation Executive | |
| Additional Secretary & Director General, CGHS | Roli Singh (IAS) |
| Joint Secretary, CGHS | Dr. Manashvi Kumar (IAS) |
| Director, CGHS | Dr. Satheesh Y H (CHS) |
Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) is a scheme for providing healthcare to the serving as well as the retired Central Government Employees and their family members. CGHS is functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the officers of the Central Health Service (CHS) provide healthcare to the beneficiaries and handles the administration of the wellness centres located throughout India.[1][2]
The Central Government Employees not residing in CGHS covered cities are entitled to medical care under Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules.[3]
History
[edit]Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) was established on 1 July 1954.[4] It was initially introduced in Delhi as the Contributory Health Service Scheme (CHSS) under the administrative control of the Directorate General of Health Services.[5][6] Initially there were 16 Dispensaries catering to 53,000 Government Employees and a total of 2,23,000 beneficiaries.[6] Prior to CGHS, employees had to claim reimbursement of medical expenditure under Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules. CGHS was introduced to provide a more comprehensive healthcare to the Central Government Employees and to make the system more efficiente. The scheme was later extended to several other categories of officials, such as members of parliament, supreme court judges, etc.
Over the years, CGHS wellness centres were expanded to cover more and more cities throughout India.[7]
Organogram
[edit]| Directorate of CGHS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AS&DG, CGHS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JS, CGHS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Director, CGHS | Director, EHS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional Director (HQ) | Additional DDG (HQ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional Directors (4 zones of Delhi) | Additional Director MSD | Additional Director (Admin) Additional Director (R&H) | Additional Directors (outside Delhi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Medical Officers (Wellness Centres) | Chief Medical Officers (Wellness Centres) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beneficiaries
[edit]Central Government Employees, serving as well as retired, and their family members are eligible for CGHS benefits. The serving employees should be residing in a CGHS covered city to be eligible to subscribe to CGHS scheme. For pensioners, this is not necessary. At the time of retirement, the pensioner can choose to avail either CGHS benefits or the Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA).[8][9]
CGHS also have several other categories of beneficiaries, which were added over the years, such as Members of Parliament, Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts, employees of certain autonomous organisations covered under the scheme, Railway Board employees, etc.[10][11]
Subscription
[edit]A subscription amount is deducted from the Pay of the Central Government Employee every month for coverage under CGHS scheme. For Pensioners, either monthly payment or a one-time lifetime payment of subscription can be chosen at the time of retirement.[12]
| Sl. No. | Corresponding Levels in the Pay Matrix as per 7th CPC | Contribution (₹/ Month) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Level 1 - 5 | 250 |
| 2 | Level 6 | 450 |
| 3 | Level 7 - 11 | 650 |
| 4 | Level 12 and above | 1000 |
CGHS Covered Cities
[edit]Currently CGHS wellness centres are functioning in 80 cities all over India.[13]
Functioning of the Wellness Centres
[edit]| Details | Total Number[15][16] | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered Cities | 81 | |
| Wellness Centres | Allopathic | 342 |
| AYUSH | 113 | |
| Poly-Clinics | 19 | |
| Primary Card Holders | 16,67,777 | |
| Beneficiaries | 46,86,949 | |
| Medical Officers (sanctioned strength) | 1539[17] | |
| Doctor to Beneficiary Ratio | 1:3045 | |
The Wellness Centres are headed by Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in-charge and functions from Monday to Saturday 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The staff pattern is as per Staff Inspection Unit (SIU) norms based on workload, and a Medical Officer is expected to attend to 75 patients in 6 hours.[18][19]
Human Resource
[edit]The Medical Officers are recruited by the CHS Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through UPSC Combined Medical Services Examination.
Recruitment to other posts are through an "Integrated Recruitment System" where the CGHS organisation is divided into 9 zones in conformation with the regional offices of the Staff Selection Commission.[16]
Services and Benefits
[edit]Through the wellness centres located at several cities across India, the beneficiaries can avail medical consultations and are provided medicines free of cost. Total number of beneficiaries are 47.44 lakhs.[16] The beneficiaries requiring expert evaluation and hospitalisation are referred to hospitals known as Healthcare Organizations (HCOs) empaneled under CGHS. A total of 2486 private hospitals and diagnostic centres are empanelled under CGHS.[16] In addition to Modern Medicine, the beneficiaries can also avail healthcare under Indian Systems of Medicine, such as Ayurveda, Unani, Sidha, Yoga and also Homeopathy.[20][21][22]
Serving employees of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Pensioners, Members of Parliament, etc., are eligible for cashless treatment at the empaneled hospitals.[10]
Challenges and Reforms
[edit]The Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare noted in its report that a significant number of posts are vacant in CGHS Organisation to the tune of 2,023 positions (28.81% of sanctioned strength) and may lead to an undesirable doctor to beneficiaries ratio, increased patient waiting time and reduced quality of care.[16] The Committee also noted that around 26% of the Wellness Centres are located in Delhi NCR region and the uneven distribution of these wellness centres throught the nation restricts the accessibility of the beneficiaries to CGHS Services.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "A Healthcare Milestone: CGHS Wellness Centre to Benefit Ladakh's Central Government Employees. | the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh | India".
- ^ "CGHS per capita spend 6x of general population's". The Times of India. 26 September 2022.
- ^ https://eparlib.nic.in/handle/123456789/58118?view_type=search
- ^ cnbctv18: Why CGHS is in need of an urgent transfusion as a health scheme.
- ^ Twenty-Second Report(1981-82) on Central Government Health Scheme pertaining to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- ^ a b Report of the Contributory Health Service Scheme Assessment Committee, 1962
- ^ https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/threefold-rise-in-central-government-health-scheme-cghs-wellness-centres-report-3323776
- ^ https://pensionersportal.gov.in/medical%20benefits4retirees-sc.aspx
- ^ "Now, male central govt employees too can include parents or parents-in-law as CGHS beneficiaries". The Times of India. 27 July 2023.
- ^ a b https://chti.rajbhasha.gov.in/pdf/faq2.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Central Government Health Scheme wellness centre to open in Kochi soon". 30 September 2019.
- ^ https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Revision%20of%20rates%20of%20subscription%20under%20Central%20Government.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "CGHS centres to be expanded from 80 cities to 100 in coming days: Union Health Minister".
- ^ PIB: CGHS Wellness Centres
- ^ https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Final%20Printed%20English%20AR%202024-25.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ a b c d e https://sansad.in/getFile/rsnew/Committee_site/Committee_File/ReportFile/14/196/163_2025_3_13.pdf?source=rajyasabha
- ^ https://sansad.in/getFile/rsnew/Committee_site/Committee_File/ReportFile/14/187/155_2024_2_18.pdf?source=rajyasabha
- ^ https://rsdebate.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/699863/1/IQ_249_09072019_U1863_p302_p303.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ 22nd Estimates Committee Report on CGHS, 1982
- ^ "Government to empanel 70 new hospitals, labs in Central Government Health Scheme". The Economic Times. 14 April 2013.
- ^ "Central Government Health Scheme: Pune Beneficiaries cry for better facilities". 14 December 2017.
- ^ "PVT hosps not keen on empanelling under central govt health scheme". The Times of India. 8 March 2021.