Lucknow Press
New Delhi: Indian Railways has made a big change in the health care policy and has taken an important decision for its employees and their dependents. Under this, railway employees will get free treatment directly in hospitals like AIIMS and PGI on showing a card of Rs 100. A UMID card will be issued for the employees. Railway pensioners will also get the benefit of this card.
Facility issued for 37 lakh people
Under the new policy, the Railways will issue a Unique Medical Identification (UMID) card for employees, their dependents and pensioners. Through this card, free treatment can be availed in hospitals and all AIIMS as per the list issued by the Railways. No referral will be required for this.
One will be able to get free treatment in hospitals included in the railway panel and all All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in the country. This card will be made for Rs 100. This new system will benefit about 12.5 lakh employees of the railways, more than 15 lakh pensioners and about 10 lakh dependents. The railways have said that under special circumstances, referrals will be issued to some hospitals, which will be valid for a period of 30 days. Railway Board Executive Director Transformation Pranav Kumar Malik has ordered the issuance of Unique Medical Identification Card.
The new system is expected to bring a complete stop to this
Suggestions were given to the Railway Ministry and Railway Board in this regard. The railways were constantly receiving complaints from employees and pensioners regarding referrals. It was stated in the complaints that doctors used to issue referrals in the name of their favorite hospitals. There were problems in referrals to hospitals of the patient’s choice. The new system is expected to put a complete stop to this.
Medical card will be kept in DigiLocker
Railway employees, pensioners and their dependents will get the card after their request through Health Management Information System (HMIS). It will be kept in the DigiLocker of the employee and pensioner. The card will be available on the profile of the concerned employee and pensioner on the HMIS app. Through the card, treatment can be availed in any hospital included in the panel of Railways and all AIIMS. Now there will be no need for any kind of referral for this.
Treatment will be done even if you do not have a card
In the order issued by the railways, it was said that employees, pensioners or their dependents will not be denied treatment even if UMID card is not issued. On contacting the concerned hospital, UMID number will be created in advance based on their information. This will enable them to avail the facility without any hindrance. After verifying the rest of the information in the unique card, it will be entered in the HMIS database.
Apart from this, free treatment facility will be available in OPD and IPD of 25 AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bangalore.
