CGHS Under Review? 8th Pay Commission May Suggest New Scheme for Employees & Pensioners

The upcoming 8th Pay Commission is yet to be constituted, but speculation has already begun about whether it will propose a new healthcare scheme for central government employees and pensioners, possibly replacing the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

According to a report by the Financial Express, at least three previous Pay Commissions had recommended introducing an alternative healthcare scheme in place of CGHS, citing its limited reach as a major drawback.

The 6th Pay Commission suggested an optional healthcare scheme, allowing central government employees and pensioners to voluntarily join by paying a fixed contribution.

The 7th Pay Commission, while highlighting the need for a stronger system, recommended that CS(MA) or ECHS empanel hospitals should be included under CGHS to expand coverage and enable cashless treatment.

CGHS itself has been in place for over six decades, serving as a model healthcare facility for central government employees and pensioners. At present, around 42 lakh beneficiaries across 80 cities are covered under the scheme.

CGHS provides medical care across multiple systems of medicine, including Allopathy, Homoeopathy, Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and Yoga, making it a comprehensive yet traditional healthcare model.

As the 8th Pay Commission takes shape, employees and pensioners are keenly waiting to see if it will strengthen CGHS or recommend a completely new healthcare framework for better accessibility and modern healthcare benefits.