Railway employees, pensioners and dependents will no longer get the facility of emergency cashless treatment without referral in private hospitals. Railway Board has withdrawn the CTSE after deliberations.
Indian Railways News: Railway employees, pensioners and dependents will no longer get the facility of emergency cashless treatment without referral in private hospitals. Railway Board, after deliberations and approval of the competent authority, has withdrawn the Cashless Treatment Scheme in Emergency (CTSE) running across the country.
Dr. AK Malhotra, Head (Health), Railway Board, has written a letter informing the Zonal Railways about this. However, in case of serious illness, railway employees and their relatives will continue to get the old cashless referral facility. Railway employee organizations have expressed their displeasure over this decision of the board and protested.
What will be the harm to railway employees due to this new rule?
Officials of Raipur Railway Division said that the Railway Board had implemented CTSE as a pilot project in January 2021 with the aim of providing proper treatment facilities to the employees and their relatives in case of emergency as soon as possible. Under this, railway employees, pensioners or dependents suffering from illness could get treatment in a empaneled private hospital in case of emergency without being referred from the railway hospital.
The Principal Executive Director said that the Finance Directorate of the Railway Ministry has also agreed to the decision to close CTSE. No refund will be made to the Cardholder for the amount deposited for CTSE Membership. Railway employees and organizations say that in case of sudden illness, employees and their relatives were getting treatment facility in empaneled private hospitals through UMID (Umid) card or CTSE card, which was a great relief.
Must take permission first
Railway officials said that till now railway employees, pensioners and dependents used to submit bills etc. after getting treatment in private hospitals without informing the department. Now employees will have to go to a private hospital for treatment only after taking mandatory permission from the department.
