Good news for over eight lakh retired paramilitary and central police personnel. Government has now decided to extend healthcare facilities to them and their families through hospitals under the command of these forces across the country.
The families of the retired personnel from forces like CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, NSG and Assam Rifles can now avail the facilities of diagnosis, ultra sound, X-ray and supply of prescribed medicines among others.
Till recently, only serving personnel could avail the facilities of these hospitals.
However, personnel and officers of these forces availing such facilities under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) will not be eligible for the scheme, which has recently been notified by the Union Home Ministry.
“After retirement, medical complications and regular health checkups is the least one expects from the organisation which I had served all my life. This new announcement will indeed help us a lot,” 68-year-old K Muralidhar, a retired BSF constable said.
The scheme will cover spouse and children of a personnel who has retired from any of the forces under the command of the Home Ministry.
“The widows of central paramilitary personnel receiving pension are a special category under this scheme,” a senior paramilitary officer said.
According to the Home Ministry directive, base and command hospitals of BSF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, ITBP, CISF and NSG spread across various states have been instructed to take care of the medical needs of these personnel.
Any retired personnel can visit these hospitals in the vicinity of his or her residence after getting an identification card from his force, the officer said.
“According to an estimate, about eight lakh retired personnel and their families will benefit from the latest decision. Apart from age related issues, difficult duties during their career make these personnel prone to medical complications and diseases,” the officer said.
The government is also coming up with a first ever referral hospital for paramilitary and central police forces in Greater Noida, near the national capital.