CM Health Scheme should be same as Central Scheme: ASPTA

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association (ASPTA) urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to see that the Mukhyamantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana (MMLSAY) for government employees is the same as that of the Central Government’s Health Scheme (CGHS).

In regards to this, the ASPTA has written a letter to the Chief Minister. The letter said, “The teachers and employees under the government receive health benefits under the Medical Attendance Rules 2008. This process is so complicated that the teaching staff has not benefited in any way. Therefore, the teachers and employees have been appealing to the State government to get rid of this complicated system. Now the Chief Minister has announced to introduce Mukhyamantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana (MMLSAY) as an alternative to the Existing State Government Medical expense Reimbursement under the Medical Attendance Rules 2008, which the ASPTA has welcomed.”

“According to the benefits of MMLSAY, every teacher and employee, depending on the position, must make a minimum contribution of Rs. 250 to Rs. 1000 per month. There is no need for the approval of the Medical Board. Teachers and employees can receive medical services, including those of family members, at any hospital in the country. The money spent by employees or teachers on health will be reimbursed according to the CGSH guidelines at the prescribed rate. All the services will be initiated online. A refund of the expenses will be initiated within 90 days. The information relating to the scheme will be available via mobile messages.”

Further, the letter stated, “The main features of CGSH include that every teacher and employee, depending on the position, must make a minimum contribution of Rs. 250 to Rs. 1000 per month. There will be free treatment and counselling, including medicines, at Wellness centres. Employees will get access to outpatient (OPD) and indoor (INDOOR) treatment in all government-designated hospitals and diagnostic centres. The money spent by employees or teachers on health will be according to the rate fixed by CGHS. All the retired and employees at Government and government-approved designated hospitals and diagnostic centres will get free access to outpatient and internal treatment. In the CGSH, every teacher or employee will get Allopathic, Ayurvedic, homoeopathic, and Ayush medical services.”

Further, the ASPTA said, “On comparing both the schemes, that is, MMSLAY and CGHS, teachers’ employees will be deprived of outpatient (OPD) treatment and initial treatment expenses and medicines. Employees will be CGHS is a scheme that provides reimbursement of medical expenses at the rate fixed by the teachers and employees under the scheme. However, the main feature of the proposed MMLSAY is that teachers and employees of the state undergo their own treatment in hospitals and are reimbursed at the fixed rate of CGHS.”

ASPTA stated, “It is well known that the rates of hospitals in all aspects are currently much higher than the rates fixed by the CGHS. This is likely to cause financial losses to teachers and employees and deprive them of medical treatment due to a lack of money. The retired employees under CGHS will get the health benefits, but under MMLSAY, they are deprived of them. As a result, MMLSAY will miserably fail. So, we want the MMLSAY to be exactly the same as that of CGHS or else provide free treatment under the MMLSAY.”

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