Union Health Minister inaugurates two CGHS HWCs in Shambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

New Delhi: Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare virtually inaugurated the CGHS health and wellness centres (HWCs) in Shambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra and Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in the presence of Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Atul Moreshwar Save, Minister for Cooperation and OBC Welfare, Government of Maharashtra, PR Natarajan, Member of Parliament, Syed Imtiaz Jalil, Member of Parliament, and Vanathi Srinivasan, MLA from Coimbatore South were also present to grace the occasion.

Expressing his elation at the event, Dr Mandaviya said that the two CGHS HWCs will play a pivotal role in providing good medical facilities to the people of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Congratulating the beneficiaries on the opening of the CGHS HWCs at Shambhaji Nagar and Coimbatore, he stated “It is our government’s responsibility to provide quality healthcare services and welfare for our CGHS employees, pensioners and their dependents.”

The Union Health Minister added that these centres would help in increasing the ease of attaining medical services. He highlighted that the number of CGHS centres has increased from 25 in 2014 to 79 today.

Highlighting various initiatives taken by Union Health Ministry for CGHS beneficiaries, Dr Mandaviya stated the Union Health Ministry is working in mission mode on several fronts to improve the service being provided by CGHS to its beneficiaries’ grievance redressal through daily monitoring, reimbursements redressal, expanding the network of private hospitals and many other steps have been laid for quick reimbursement and decrease in pendency of such cases. Over the period, CGHS has undergone many changes to keep pace with the developments in the health sector such as the digitalisation of services. Today, more than 9100 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are in existence for the betterment of the people by providing cheap and better-quality medicines to all citizens.

He further added, “The Union Government is following ‘token to total’ approach by not only opening HWCs but also by ensuring increased medical professionals and their training through more medical colleges.” He also informed that following the notion of Aarogya Param Bhagyam, Swasthyam Sarwaarth Sadhanam, which means good health is the greatest fortune, investing in healthcare is like investing in future, India has been working relentlessly towards rapidly expanding and strengthening health infrastructure across the country. “To reach the remotest part of the country, digital interventions like teleconsultations and ABDM has been taken. Janaushadhi Kendras have been established and the Ayushman Bharat yojana scheme has been launched. The

Union Government has been undertaking various reforms so that ‘health for all’ can be ensured,” he stated.

Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar said that “CGHS would give robust coverage to pensioners and with innovations and practices inculcated in these centres.” She highlighted that the government has taken several measures to improve health facilities under CGHS. “The Union Govt started some of the ambitious initiatives like PMJAY, PM- ABHIM, and HWCs to provide welfare to every citizen of the country. We are hopeful that the new wellness centres at Coimbatore will ease the hardships of the beneficiaries’ pensioners not only living in Coimbatore and Sambhaji Nagar but also those living in the surrounding areas.” For example, in Coimbatore, more than 8000 beneficiaries had to travel 400-500 km for medical care and medicines. Coimbatore and Sambhaji Nagar CGHS wellness centres will not only provide OPD services to the beneficiaries but once they become functional, private hospitals will also come on the panel and pensioners will be helped to avail cashless medical treatment from private hospitals as well.