Srinagar, Aug 14 (KNS): A meeting was convened by the Director, Health Services Kashmir in collaboration with the Central Government Pensioners Association Kashmir, at Royal Golf Course on Friday.

In a statement, issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), a spokesperson said that the meeting was attended by the senior functionaries of CGPWA (Kashmir), senior representatives of major private hospitals and diagnostic centres from almost all districts of the valley. 

“The meeting was also attended by the Secretary, State Health Authority and Presidents of Private Hospitals Association and the Association of diagnostic centres, as well,” reads the statement.
        
It reads that the meeting was held in the context of empanelment of private hospitals and diagnostic centres, for making available to 
central government pensioners and their dependent family members, various facilities for healthcare, under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), which they are presently deprived of, since no hospitals and diagnostic centres are presently empaneled under the scheme in Kashmir.

President of CGPWA Mr Mohd.Shafi Pandit, urged the representatives of hospitals and diagnostic centres to view this issue as a social cause, for the benefit of senior citizens, and in this context , requested them to get empaneled under this scheme, as soon as possible, because they already stand empaneled under Ayushmann Sehat scheme. 

He asked them to share the difficulties, if any, in implementing the CGHS cashless scheme for pensioners so that these can be got examined by the concerned authorities. One of the issues brought out by the representatives of industry was that the rates being allowed under Ayushman are very low. 

They pressed for approving Metro rates for the purpose of implementing the cashless facilities under CGHS, for its smooth implementation.

Dr Mushtaq Ahmad, Director Health Services assured the representatives of healthcare service providers that he views their demands empathetically, and would, after discussion with them, request the UT Health Department to make appropriate recommendations to the Ministry of Health, Government of India. (KNS)