JAMMU: The Central Government Pensioners’ Welfare Association (CGPWA), Jammu, has sought the establishment of additional CGHS Wellness Centres across Jammu and Kashmir and the urgent re-empanelment of major private hospitals to address growing healthcare concerns among pensioner beneficiaries.
CGPWA president Kuldeep Khoda and other senior members released the Association’s newsletter at a meeting held in Jammu on Monday. The publication focuses particularly on issues faced by CGHS pensioners, including overcrowding at the two existing Wellness Centres in Jammu.
The Association said the two centres are currently catering to around 31,000 CGHS beneficiaries, making the existing arrangements increasingly difficult to manage as more UT pensioners join the scheme. It noted that the J&K Government has already initiated a process to provide space in government medical colleges and district hospitals for opening additional CGHS Wellness Centres and urged the CGHS authorities to establish the centres at the identified locations.
The meeting also expressed concern over the de-empanelment of K D Multi-Specialty Hospital and Ujala Cygnus Jammu Medicity Hospital, saying the move had deprived pensioners of cashless treatment at major specialty hospitals. The Association urged CGHS authorities to re-empanel both hospitals at the earliest.
The CGPWA also sought urgent empanelment of ASCOM Hospital, stating that the hospital has completed the required formalities and that the matter is pending with the Additional Director, CGHS Chandigarh. It further demanded early CGHS empanelment of AIIMS Vijaypur to extend cashless healthcare facilities to beneficiaries.
The Association sought the intervention of Minister of State for Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare Dr Jitendra Singh for early resolution of the empanelment issues concerning Jammu hospitals.
The newsletter also carries articles on pensioners, older persons and healthcare, including articles on chest diseases contributed by Dr Ashok Bhan and Dr Rahul Gupta, HoD, Chest Diseases, GMC Jammu.
The meeting also reviewed preparations for the 36th International Day of Older Persons, observed globally on October 1. As part of the celebrations, an inter-school painting competition on the theme “Lifestyle of Grandparents” has been organised.
A health awareness programme on dental problems among older persons has also been scheduled. Dr Reecha Gupta, Professor and HoD, and Dr Shivani Jandial, Assistant Professor, Department of Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridges, Indira Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu, will deliver an awareness lecture on “Geriatric Dental Needs: Towards Healthy Aging.”
