Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 10: Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, has respectfully requested the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, and Hon’ble Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Shri J.P. Nadda to kindly intervene regarding the pending implementation of the Government of India’s decision to extend Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) facilities to pensioners of the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Administration.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, through its Office Memorandum dated 13 November 2023, had advised all Union Territories to extend CGHS facilities to their pensioners on par with Central Government pensioners. However, even after nearly two years, the UT Administration and the CGHS Division have not initiated the required steps for enrolment, registration, issuance of CGHS cards, or the establishment of a CGHS Wellness Centre in the Islands.
The MP noted that the delay has resulted in considerable difficulty for pensioners many of whom are senior citizens who already face challenges due to limited specialist services and advanced medical facilities in the Islands. In the absence of CGHS enrolment and card issuance, pensioners travelling to the mainland for medical treatment are unable to avail the benefits that have already been approved by the Government of India.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray also mentioned that the Government Pensioners’ Association, A&N Islands, had submitted a detailed representation on 17 February 2025, but no further action has been taken on their request apart from forwarding the representation. In his communication to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Union Ministers, the MP has urged early intervention to facilitate the following steps:
1. Initiation of enrolment and registration of eligible pensioners under CGHS.
2. Timely issuance of CGHS cards in accordance with guidelines.
3. Establishment and operationalisation of a CGHS Wellness Centre/Dispensary in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
4. Issuance of relevant notifications/orders required for full implementation of the Ministry’s 2023 directives.
The MP expressed that timely action will greatly relieve the difficulties faced by retired government employees who depend on CGHS for accessible and reliable healthcare. He has requested that the matter be accorded priority, considering its direct impact on the health and well-being of the elderly pensioner community across the Islands.