New health scheme soon

​Hyderabad:  On the lines of state government’s resolution to introduce new transfer and promotion policy for the government employees, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao is all set to roll out a new health scheme covering all permanent employees working in different departments in the state soon.  

In the wake of severe criticism from all employees’ unions on the implementation of the existing health scheme, the Chief Minister has taken the decision to bring in a new scheme at the meeting he held with the union leaders at Pragati Bhavan here on Thursday. 

The representatives of the employees brought to the notice of the CM the problems being faced by them in availing the emergency medical treatment in the corporate hospitals under the present health scheme. As per the rules, the patient would have to seek permission in writing from the state-run wellness centres for them to get admitted and undergo emergency treatment in the multi-specialty hospitals. As it takes a long time to get a reference letter from the wellness centres, patients with serious ailments are unable to get emergency treatment at hospitals in time.  

The employees’ union leaders explained to the Chief Minister the lack of availability of specialty doctors, mainly cardiologists,  neuro-physicians and surgeons, nephrologists at wellness centres established in Hyderabad and Warangal which is resulting in forcing the patients to rush to corporate hospitals at their own expenses for treatment.  

Telangana Employees Union president A Padma Chary said that KCR gave a patient hearing to the representation of the employees’ delegation and asked the ministers committee headed by Finance Minister E Rajendar to come out with a new health scheme exclusively for the government employees. It is also proposed to enforce the new scheme with the contribution from both employee and employer which facilitates the beneficiary to have access to advanced medical treatment in any corporate hospital instantly. 

Before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the then governments implemented health insurance scheme with contribution from employee and employer in the ratio of 40:60 in the annual premium. After the formation of Telangana, KCR announced a free health scheme with zero contribution from government workers.  

In the previous health scheme, employees availed medical treatment up to Rs 10 lakh in multi-specialty hospitals. Where as, after the TS government came up with the new scheme it has put many restrictions in getting treatment instantly. Patients would have to seek special permission to undergo the treatment  if the cost exceeds Rs 5 lakh.           

Sources said that the government is inclined to introduce the contribution of employee and employer in the new health scheme which was a big success earlier.  Health insurance coverage will be finalised depending on the contribution of the employee. The new health scheme is expected to come into force from August this year, sources said.