**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 2233 in Lok Sabha, addressing the extension of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facilities to pensioners of Union Territory (UT) administrations. The question was to be answered on December 12th, 2025. The government has decided to extend CGHS facilities, excluding the UT of Delhi, subject to specific conditions.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **CGHS Extension:**
* The government has decided to extend CGHS medical facilities to pensioners of UT Administrations, excluding Delhi.
* The extension will be at par with Central Government pensioners.
* Pensioners must pay requisite subscription fees as per CGHS guidelines.
* Pensioners seeking CGHS coverage should not be availing medical benefits from any other Government Health Scheme.
* **CGHS Wellness Centre Norms:**
* Opening a new CGHS Wellness Centre requires a minimum of 2500 principal CGHS Cardholders or 6000 CGHS beneficiaries.
* The establishment of Wellness Centres depends on the availability of resources and suitable accommodations.
* New posts of Medical Officers, Pharmacists, Staff Nurses, and Clerical Staff must be created.
* The sanction of posts and allocation of funds fall under the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
* **Financial Implications:**
* The minimum recurring expenditure is Rs.4.8 crore per year.
* The non-recurring expenditure is estimated between Rs.0.75 crore and Rs.1.00 crore.
* Approval from the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance is required.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Pensioners of Union Territory Administrations (excluding Delhi)**
**Impact:** Access to CGHS medical facilities on par with Central Government pensioners, subject to payment of subscription fees and not availing benefits from other government schemes.
**Action Required:** Pay subscription fees as per CGHS guidelines and ensure no overlap with other government health scheme benefits.
* **Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance**
**Impact:** Responsible for sanctioning posts and allocating funds for new CGHS Wellness Centres, necessitating a recurring expenditure of Rs.4.8 crore per year and a non-recurring expenditure of Rs.0.75-1.00 crore.
**Action Required:** Approve the necessary funds for establishing and maintaining CGHS Wellness Centres.
* **Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
**Impact:** Responsible for extending CGHS facilities to pensioners of Union Territory administrations.
**Action Required:** Oversee the extension of CGHS facilities and ensure adherence to the guidelines and conditions.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS): A health scheme providing medical facilities, being extended to pensioners of Union Territory Administrations.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for the policy regarding CGHS facilities.
Union Territory (UT): Administrative regions to which the CGHS facilities extension applies (excluding Delhi).
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2233
TOBE ANSWERED ON12TH DECEMBER, 2025
CGHS FACILITIES FORPENSIONERS OFUTADMINISTRATIONS
†2233.SHRIBISHNU PADARAY:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that the Union Government had any proposal/has decided to extend the
Central Government Health Scheme facilities to all the pensioners of Union Territory
Administrations inthe countryat parwith the Central Government pensioners;
(b) if so, the reasons for non-implementation of the said decision in the Union Territory of
Andaman & Nicobar Islands till date and the authorityresponsible for the delay in implementing
tothe Government’sdecision; and
(c) whether the Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands has brought this issue to the
attention of the Union Government seeking its early enforcement and if so, the steps
taken/proposed tobe takenby the Government inthisregard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a)to(c) Government has decided to extend CGHS medical facilities to the pensioners
under Union Territory (UT) Administrations, except the UT of Delhi. The CGHS facilities shall
be extendedat parwith the Central Government pensioners, on paymentof requisite subscription
fees as per the prevalent CGHS guidelines, subject to the conditions that the Pensioners of a
Union Territory seeking CGHS coverage are not availing medical benefits from any other
Government Health Scheme.
The extant norms for opening of a new CGHS Wellness Centre, inter-alia, include
minimum 2500 principal CGHS Cardholders or 6000 CGHS beneficiaries subject to availability
of resources, suitable accommodations, creation of posts of Medical Officers, Pharmacists, Staff
Nurse, Clerical Staff etc. The sanction of posts and allocation of funds for these Wellness
Centres is under the ambit of Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. The minimum
financial implication involves a recurring expenditure of Rs.4.8 crore per year and a one-time
non-recurring expenditure of Rs.0.75 crore to Rs.1.00 crore for which the approval of
Department of Expenditure,Ministry of Financeisrequired.
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