Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed concerns regarding the lack of dental units in CGHS wellness centers in Chandigarh and major cities of Punjab. While there are no current proposals to establish dedicated CGHS dental units in these areas, the Ministry emphasizes its commitment to universal health coverage, including dental treatment, through various national programs. Central government employees can seek reimbursement for dental treatments at government hospitals or empanelled private facilities. As of the announcement on August 1, 2025, 16 private HCOs in Punjab and Chandigarh are empanelled for dental treatment under CGHS and CSMA Rules, 1944.
Key Points / Main Content:
CGHS Wellness Centers:
* Provide primary healthcare services: consultation, treatment, dispensing medicines.
* Manage chronic illnesses, offer preventive care, conduct routine checkups.
* Issue referrals for specialist consultations and hospitalizations in empanelled facilities.
Dental Care Provisions:
* No current proposal to establish CGHS dental units in Punjab and Chandigarh.
* The Ministry aims for universal health coverage, including dental treatment, through national programs like ABPMJAY, Ayushman Arogya Mandir, ABHIM, ABDM, and NHM.
* Medical colleges and district hospitals in Punjab and Chandigarh also provide dental care.
* Central government employees can get treatment from any Government Hospital Central/State Government.
Reimbursement and Empanelment:
* Reimbursement available as per CGHS package rates or actual cost, whichever is lower.
* 155 Private HCOs are empanelled under CGHS and CSMA Rules, 1944, for medical treatment.
* 16 of these empanelled HCOs provide dental treatment.
List of empanelled HCOs for dental treatment:
* Chandigarh (4): Dr. Kochars House of Smiles, Gupta Hospital, Indus Speciality Health Indus Hygiea, Khullar Dental Hospital.
* Amritsar (3): Corporate Hospital, Ranjit Hospital, Lifecure Hospital.
* Jalandhar (3): Global Hospital U O Sood Hospital Pvt. Ltd., Johal Multispecialty Hospital, Capitol Hospital.
* Mohali (2): Mehar Hospital (Zirakpur), JP Hospital (Zirakpur).
* Ludhiana (2): Mohandai Oswal Hospital, Satguru Partap Singh Hospital.
* Ropar (1): Gurdev Hospital (Kangar Road Nurpur Bedi Distt.).
* Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (1): Guru Nanak Mission Hospital.
Impact Analysis:
Central Government Employees and Pensioners:
* Impact: Can access dental treatment in empanelled private HCOs and claim reimbursement as per CGHS rules; can get treatment from any Government Hospital Central/State Government.
* Action Required: Utilize empanelled HCOs for dental treatments or seek treatment at any Government Hospital Central/State Government, and file for reimbursement according to CGHS guidelines.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:
* Impact: Responsible for providing healthcare, including dental, through various national programs in lieu of dedicated CGHS dental units in Chandigarh and Punjab.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and expanding national health programs to ensure universal health coverage, including dental care.
CGHS Wellness Centers:
* Impact: Continue providing primary healthcare services, referring patients to empanelled hospitals for specialized dental treatment.
* Action Required: Maintain referral services for dental care.
Private Health Care Organizations (HCOs):
* Impact: 16 empanelled HCOs can provide dental services to CGHS beneficiaries.
* Action Required: Provide dental treatment to CGHS beneficiaries as per empanelment terms.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Government Health Scheme: A health scheme in India providing comprehensive medical care facilities to central government employees and pensioners.
Chandigarh: A union territory in India, serving as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
Punjab: A state in northern India.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The government ministry responsible for health policy in India.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana: A national public health insurance fund of the Government of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for qualified citizens in the country.
National Health Mission: A centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India, launched in 2013, integrating various healthcare programs to address public health needs, especially in rural areas.
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh: A premier medical research and educational institution in Chandigarh, India.
CSMA Rules, 1944: Rules related to medical attendance and treatment for central government employees.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2108
TO BE ANSWERED ON01STAUGUST, 2025
ESTABLISHMENTOFCGHS DENTALUNITIN CHANDIGARH
2108. SHRICHARANJITSINGH CHANNI:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a)whether the Government is aware thatCGHS wellness centresinChandigarhand majorcities
of Punjab (Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala) lack dental units, causing difficulties for
Government employeesandpensioners, if so,the detailsthereof;
(b) whether there is any plan to establish a CGHS dental unit in Chandigarh, if so, the details
thereofalongwith the timeline fixedfor itsimplementation;
(c) whether new CGHS dental units are likely to be set up in other major cities of Punjab, if so,
the detailsthereof;
(d) whether the Government is taking steps to equip CGHS centres with modern dental
equipmentandqualified dentists, if so, the detailsthereof; and
(e) whether the Government has any plans to expand CGHS dental services in Punjab, if so, the
detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a)to(e) CGHS Wellness Centres provide primary healthcare services including
consultation, treatment, and dispensing of medicines to CGHS beneficiaries. They manage
chronic illnesses, offer preventive care, and conduct routine health check-ups. Centres also issue
referrals for specialist consultations and hospitalizations in empanelled facilities. The
beneficiaries are referred to empanelled hospitals and diagnostic centres for specialist
consultation, investigations, or hospitalization when needed. There is no proposal to establish
CGHS Dental Unit inState of PunjabandUTof Chandigarh.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is striving towards achieving Universal Health
Coverage including Dental treatment, for all citizens, as per National Health Policy, through its
various programs like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY),
Ayushman Arogya Mandir (erstwhile Ayushman Bharat Health & Wellness Centre), Ayushman
Bharat HealthInfrastructure Mission(ABHIM), Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), and
National Health Mission (NHM) through its Rural and Urban components. In addition, All India
Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and
Research, Chandigarh, Government Medical Collegesand District Hospitals are also functioning
inthe state of PunjabandUT of Chandigarhto caterallthe medicalrelated includingDental care
needs. Central Government employees are permitted to avail treatment from any Government
Hospital (Central/State Government), as per MoHFW OM No. Z15025/18/2020/DIR/CGHSdated 09.10.2020 and claim reimbursement as per CGHS package rates or actual, whichever is
lower.The copyof OM isat Annexure-I.
In the State of Punjab and UT of Chandigarh, 155 Private Health Care Organizations
(HCOs) are empanelled under CGHS and CS(MA) Rules, 1944, for medical treatment of central
government employeesandpensioners. Out of these empanelled HCOs, Dental treatment maybe
obtainedfrom 16such HCOs. The detailisat Annexure-II.ANNUEXURE-IANNEXURE-II
List of Health Care Organizations (HCOs) empanelled under CGHS, in State of Punjab
andUT of Chandigarh,wheredental treatmentcanbe taken
Chandigarh(04):
1. Dr.Kochar’sHouse of Smiles
2. Gupta Hospital
3. Indus SpecialityHealth (Indus Hygiea)
4. Khullar Dental Hospital
Amritsar(03):
5. Corporate Hospital
6. Ranjit Hospital
7. LifecureHospital
Jalandhar(03):
8. Global Hospital (U O SoodHospital Pvt.Ltd.)
9. Johal Multispecialty Hospital
10.Capitol Hospital
List of Health CareOrganizations (HCOs) empanelled underCS(MA) Rules, 1944,in State
of Punjab,where dentaltreatment canbetaken
Mohali(02):
11. Mehar Hospital, ZirakpurMohali, Punjab
12.JPHospital, Zirakpur,Mohali
Ludhiana(02):
13.Mohandai Oswal Hospital, Ludhiana,Punjab
14.SatguruPartapSingh Hospital LudhianaPunjab
Ropar(01):
15.Gurdev Hospital Kangar Road Nurpur Bedi Distt. Ropar Punjab
Shaheed BhagatSinghNagar(01):
16.Guru Nanak Mission Hospital, ShaheedBhagat Singh Nagar,Punjab
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