Special Passes for Medical Treatment - RBE 178/2018

Special Passes for Medical Treatment - RBE 178/2018

Issuance of Special Passes on Medical grounds for follow-up medical treatment in outstation Hospitals: Railway Board Order

RBE No. 178/2018

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)

No. E(W)2015/PS5-2/4

New Delhi, dated 16.11.2018

The General Managers (P)
All Zonal Railways &
Productions Units.

The Chief–Medical Directors
All Zonal Railways.

Sub: Issuance of Special Passes on Medical grounds for follow-up medical treatment in outstation Hospitals.

It has been brought to the notice of Board that difficulties are being faced by serving/retired railway employees & their family members due to the present practice or issuing of Special Passes on medical grounds for follow-up medical treatment. Such passes are being issued just a few days before the due date of visit to specialized hospitals located in outstations. Due to this practice, the beneficiaries of such Special Passes are unable to secure confirmed advance reservation.

2. The matter has been examined in consultation with Health Dte. of the Ministry of Railways. Keeping in view the fact that the beneficiaries of such passes are normally those who are suffering from serious ailments like cancer, renal failure, heart ailments, etc. and in order to facilitate securing of advance reservation for them, it has been decided to stipulate the following procedure for issuing of Special Passes [under Schedule VII of Railway Servants (Pass) Rules, 1986 (Second Edition 1993) for follow-up medical treatment:-

(i) The Competent Medical Officer in the Railway Hospital will issue necessary prescription on the basis of follow-up visit advice recorded by the outstation Hospital, as and when approached by the beneficiary, without waiting for the due date for follow-up visit to come nearer. In the said prescription, the period of travel validity (which is to be endorsed on the pass) must be indicated clearly, which shall be one week i.e. 7 days before and 21 days after the clue date of visit. For example, If a beneficiary has to reach a Hospital in Mumbai for follow-up treatment on 8th December 2018, the Medical Officer concerned should write in the prescription: "Special Pass valid for travel from 1st Dec, 2018 to 29th Dcc, 2018 may be issued."

(ii) The PASS Issuing Authorities, on the basis of Aforementioned prescription and recommendation will issue Special Pass upto 5 months in advance endorsing thereon the travel validity period as "Valid for travel from __/__/_____ to __/__/_____" (i.e. the dates as recommended in the prescription).

3. Moreover, representations are also being received in Board's office. from the beneficiaries of Special Passes issued on medical grounds complaining of delays in issue of such passes. In this context, the Railways are directed to sensitize the concerned pass issuing officials to issue the Special Passes on medical grounds on the very same day of receipt-of the application in case of serious ailments and at the most, next day in all other cases.

4. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways;

(V. Muralidharan)
Dy. Director Estt. (Welfare)-I
Railway Board

Source: Railway Board

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Advances for Medical Treatment, TA on Tour or Transfer and LTC are retained: Finmin Orders

Advances for Medical Treatment, TA on Tour or Transfer and LTC are retained: Finmin Orders 

Advances for Medical Treatment, Travelling Allowance for family of deceased, Travelling Allowance on tour or transfer and Leave Travel Concession shall be retained

Grant of advances: Seventh Pay Commission recommendations: Amendment to Rules of Compendium of Rules on Advances to Government Servants.

No.12(1)/E.II(A)/2016
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure

New Delhi, 7th October, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Grant of advances: Seventh Pay Commission recommendations: Amendment to Rules of Compendium of Rules on Advances to Government Servants.

The undersigned is directed to say that in pursuance of the decision taken by the Government on the Seventh Pay Commission’s recommendations relating to advances, all the interest free advances stand discontinued as per attached annexure, with the exception that the interest free Advances for Medical Treatment, Travelling Allowance for family of deceased, Travelling Allowance on tour or transfer and Leave Travel Concession shall be retained.

2. In addition, the advance for training in Hindi through Correspondence Course, which is not mentioned in the Compendium of Rules on Advances to Government Servants, also stands abolished in pursuance of the decision of Government on 7th CPC recommendations.

3. These orders will take effect from the date of issue of this O.M. The cases where the advances have already been sanctioned need not be reopened.

4. In so far as persons serving in Indian Audit and Accounts Department are concerned, these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

5. All Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the amendments to the notice of all its attached and subordinate offices for their information.
Hindi version of this O.M. is enclosed.

sd/-
(Pankaj Hazarika)
Director, E.II(A)

AMENDMENTS TO COMPENDIUM OF RULES ON ADVANCES TO GOVERNMENT SERVANTS, 2005
S.No. / Name of Advance / GoI Decision on 7th CPC recommendations
1. Bicycle Advance - Abolished
2. Warm Clothing Advance - Abolished
3. Advance of Pay on Transfer - Abolished
4. Festival Advance - Abolished
5. Natural Calamity Advance -  Abolished
6. Advance of Leave Salary - Abolished
7. Advance for Law Suits - Abolished
Authority: www.finmin.nic.in

Click to view the order

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Treatment of period of Railway employees sent for medical treatment of serious ailments like Cancer, Tuberculosis or Polio myelitis -reg.

Treatment of period of Railway employees sent for medical treatment of serious ailments like Cancer, Tuberculosis or Polio myelitis as Govt. duty: NFIR writes to Railway Board

NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

No. 11/10

Dated: 19/05/2015

The Secretary (E),
Railway Board,
New Delhi

Dear Sir,
Sub: Treatment of period of Railway employees sent for medical treatment of serious ailments like Cancer, Tuberculosis or Polio myelitis -reg.

Federation desires to invite attention of the Railway Board to the provisions contained in Rule No. 1676 (1) extract of which is reproduced below:-

“A Railway servant suffering from Cancer, Tuberculosis or Polio myelitis who is sent to a hospital referred in Rule 643 RI for treatment on the advice of the authorised Medical Attendant shall be entitled to travelling allowance as for a journey on tour to and from the place of treatment, but no daily allowance shall be admissible for any halts”

As per the above provision Railway employee or a family member of the employee if suffering from Cancer, Tuberculoses or Polio myelitis and sent to Railway Hospital or referred to another Hospital for treatment is entitled for payment of travelling allowance similar to the journey on tour, to and from the place of treatment.
NFIR has noted that the rules, however, do not cover the period of absence during the medical treatment of the Railway employee or member of his/her family. Reports received by the Federation from Zones/Divisions reveal that Railway employees have been facing difficulties in absence of adequate provision as the period spent by the employee is debited against ‘leave due‘ and sometimes leads to ‘Nil’ balance which causes further hardships as the employees are denied salary due to non- availability of adequate amount of leave in the leave account.

NFIR, therefore requests the Railway Board to make suitable provision in the rules for treating such periods as duty, may be, on production of medical certificate from the authorised medical officer and issue instructions accordingly. This will send a right message among the Railway employees as a positive welfare measure. A copy of the instructions issued may be endorsed to the Federation.

Yours faithfully
sd/-
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Source: NFIR
[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B40Q65NF2_7UMjJHOXdQUi1SUmM/view]

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Medical Treatment Rates by CGHS empanelled hospitals queried in Lok Sabha

Medical Treatment Rates by CGHS empanelled hospitals queried in Lok Sabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2402
ANSWERED ON 25.07.2014

ARBITRARY RATES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

2402 . Dr. VIRENDRA KUMAR

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether certain Government hospitals/private CGHS empanelled hospitals across the country including the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Delhi are reportedly charging arbitrary ratesfor
treatment/diagnostic tests from Central Government Employees instead of rates approved by CGHS;
(b) if so, the details thereof and thereasons therefor including action taken against the offenders;

(c) whether the Government has issuedany direction to these hospitals to charge the rates for treatment of diagnostic testsas per CGHS approved rates from CGHS beneficiaries and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the mechanism put in place tomonitor the effective implementation of the directions of the Government in the matter;and

(e) the corrective measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard including reimbursement offull expenses incurred on medical treatmentof the CGHS beneficiaries?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) & (b): There are certain complaints of overcharging by the CGHS empanelled private hospitals. However it does not include the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Delhi, which is an autonomous body under State Government of Delhi.

The Complaints received against some Private CGHS empanelled hospitals are as under:

Delhi

1.Kukreja Hospital
2. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital
3. JeewanHopsital& Nursing Home
4. Dr B.L.Kapoor Hospital
5. Yashoda super speciality Hospital
6. Fortis Flt Lt. RajanDhall Hospital
7. Medanta the Mediciti
8. National Heart Institute
9.Saral Advanced Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd.
10.NoidaMedicare centre
11. Max Super speciality Hospital
12. Escort’s Hospital Faridabad
13.Kailash Hospital & Heart Institute
14. Mata Chanan Devi Hospital
15. Dr Lal Path Lab

Excess amount charged has been deducted and paid to the beneficiaries.

Bengaluru:

1. Fortis Hospital , Cunningham Road
2. Fortis Hospital Bennerghatta Road
3. Shankar Eye Hospital
4. Imperial Hospital

Warning letters were issued by Addl. Director, CGHS and the excess amount charged was recovered and paid to the beneficiaries.

Patna

Show Cause Notice was issued to Ruban Memorial Hospital

Jabalpur

1. Jabalpur Hospital & Res.Centre
2. Marble city Hospital & Res. Centre

Warning letters were issued by Addl. Director, CGHS and the excess amount charged was returned to the beneficiaries.

(c): The CGHS empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres are to charge only the approved package rates and this clause is part of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between CGHS and CGHS empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres at the time of empanelment.

(d)& (e): Monitoring is done by the officers of CGHS, including Addl. Director of the concerned city, Joint Director(Grievances), Hospital Cell and Hospital Empanelment Cell.

As and when any instance of excess charging comes to the knowledge of CGHS, the matter is taken up with the concerned hospital / diagnostic centre and Show Cause Notice is issued seeking explanation. In case of unsatisfactory reply or no reply suitable action is taken as per terms and conditions of Memorandum of Agreement signed by the hospitals like forfeiture of performance bank guarantee , recovery of excess amount and in extreme cases removal from CGHS panel.

Source: Lok Sabha

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Guidelines on Mercy Killings

Guidelines on Mercy Killings

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

The Law Commission had sent 196th Report titled “Medical Treatment to Terminally Ill Patients (Protection of Patients and Medical Practitioners) in this regard.

The view of the Ministry was conveyed to Ministry of Law & Justice that Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is not in favour of enacting the Bill due to following reasons:

1.    Hippocratic oath is against intentional/voluntary killing of the patient.

2.    Progression of medical science to relieve pain, suffering, rehabilitation and treatment of so-called incurable diseases will suffer a setback.

3.    An individual may wish to die at a certain point of time, his/her wish may not be persistent and only a fleeting desire out of transient depression.

4.    Suffering is a state of mind and a perception, which varies from individual to individual and depends on various environmental and social factors.

5.    Continuous advancement in medical science has made possible good pain management in patients of cancer and other terminal illnesses. Similarly, rehabilitation helps many spinal injury patients in leading near normal life and withdrawal of life support may not be required.

6.    Wish of withdrawal of life support by a mentally ill patient/in depression may be treatable by good psychiatric care.

7.    It will be difficult to quantify suffering which may always be subject to changing social pressures and norms.

8.    Can doctors claim to have knowledge and experience to say that the disease is incurable and patient is permanently invalid?

9.    Defining of bed-ridden and requiring regular assistance is not always medically possible.

10.    There might be psychological pressure and trauma to the medical officers who would be required to conduct withdrawal of life support.

Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its judgement dated 7.3.2011, dismissing the plea for mercy killings of a Mumbai nurse, Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug, who has been reduced to vegetative state in King Edward Memorial Hospital for past 37 years, laid down comprehensive guidelines to process “passive euthanasia” till Parliament passes a law, while making a clear distinction between “active euthanasia”, which means ending of life of a patient by injecting medication and “passive euthanasia” permitting to withdraw life support to a terminally ill patient.

Thereafter, the matter of mercy killing has been examined further in consultation with Ministry of Law & Justice and it has been held that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has already laid down guidelines in this respect through its judgement delivered in Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug’s case which are to be followed in such cases and should, therefore, be treated as law. There is no proposal under consideration at this stage for making law on this subject.

This information was given by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.

Source:  Rajya Sabha News

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