CGHS reimburses medical expenses of retired govt employee

New Delhi, Mar 2 (UNI) Pursuant to the Delhi High Court directions Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) reimbursed the medical expenses of Rs 3,54,363 incurred by a retired government employee who did not have the CGHS medical card.

Justice Anil Kumar directed the CGHS to reimburse the medical expenses incurred by one N R Batra who retired from Ministry of Foods and Civil Supplies and underwent a treatment related to the heart ailments at the Escorts Heart Institute.

Counsel for the CGHS Virender Sood handed over the cheque of Rs 3,54,363 to Mr Batra in the court room.

As per the rules, the CGHS is available to all Central Government employees, pensioners and their dependants residing in the area covered under the scheme.

The facilities given under the CGHS include consultation with medical officer at the CGHS dispensaries, polyclinics or hospitals, x-rays and other diagnosticstests, supply of medicines, hospitalisation, reimbursement of costs of implants for heart ailments, hearing aids, intra-ocular lens etc.

Mr Batra retired on April 30, 1993 and was living in a small village Likhi, district Faridabad. There was no CGHS dispensary available in the area so the CGHS card could not be issued to him. Though he had deposited Rs 18,000 as one time payment to avail the CGHS facilities.

On march 1, 2006 Mr Batra suffered a chest pain and on emergency basis was admitted to the Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre, Okhla. He underwent coronary angiography and coronary stenting with thrombus. The total expenditure incurred for his treatment was Rs 3,54,363.

When Mr Batra approached CGHS for reimbursement he was denied the same for not having the CGHS card.

Counsel for Mr Batra said the authorities failed to appreciate the petitioner's case and did not see that all formalities to get his medical card were completed well in time and it was they who acted in an arbitrary and irrational manner.

Mr Batra said he made all efforts to get the CGHS card issued but due to some objections raised time and again by the department, the card could not be issued to him whereas other formalities regarding his pension papers were completed.

The petitioner said that he being a pensioner was compelled to survive on the limited funds and the medical aid available to the government employees after retirement was to make their ] lives easier.

Any procedural lapse which is beyond their control should not be permitted to be used against them, he said.

UNI SNG SK HT1558