Gurgaon: CGHS dispensary gets airport bucket chairs, repair to begin in a week

The move comes two days after HT carried a report highlighting the pitiable state of these dispensaries, which has been blamed on the negligence of the central government.

Around 80,000 city residents who fall within the ambit of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) heaved a sigh of relief after years of struggle, as airport bucket chairs were made available for the two dispensaries located in sectors 5 and 55.

The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) dispensary in Sector 5 has not seen any repairs since its inception in 2012. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

The move comes two days after HT carried a report highlighting the pitiable state of these dispensaries, which has been blamed on the negligence of the central government. On Thursday, the dispensary at Sector 5 got 15 airport bucket chairs for visitors.

The CGHS beneficiaries include all central government pensioners and their family members. They are even entitled to receive treatment and medicines free of cost.

The beneficiaries and members of CGHS Beneficiaries’ Welfare Association, Gurgaon, held a meeting with CGHS officials in New Delhi on Wednesday wherein they highlighted the issues plaguing these units. The members were assured that both the units will soon be brought under an annual maintenance contract to the central public works department and, till that happens, any minor upgrades will be done at the local level.

The Sector 55 unit has not seen repairs since its inception in 2012.

“We are considering extending the validity of the CGHS referral slip in order to enable a beneficiary to seek a medical opinion directly,” SN Gupta, president, CGHS Beneficiaries’ Welfare Association, Gurgaon, said.

The beneficiaries will also be able to avail of specialised treatment at government hospitals. The move will especially benefit those who often have to run from one hospital to another to consult specialists.

The CGHS should consider sending more doctors to the Gurgaon dispensaries in a bid to reduce the waiting time of patients, said G Sharda, a beneficiary.

The board also assured the purchase and installation of a photocopier at the Sector 5 dispensary in a bid to spare beneficiaries, most of whom are pensioners or their elderly kin, the trouble of going about town to get photocopies made.

Sarita Dhawan, additional director, CGHS, said, “We held a meeting with the beneficiaries and members of the association as well and took note of the issues dogging these units. We will start the repair work in a week and the other demands, too, will be considered.”