Top News

The Central Government has provided significant relief to retiring central government employees. They will no longer need to apply on separate portals or repeatedly submit documents to obtain a Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) pensioner card. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has integrated the CGHS online system with the 'Bhavishya' portal. This new arrangement will make the entire process easier, faster, and almost entirely paperless compared to the previous system.

**Apply directly through the Bhavishya portal**
The Bhavishya portal is used for processes related to the retirement and pension of central government employees. Now, employees can also apply online for their CGHS pensioner card through this same portal. Crucially, various details regarding pension and service history will be automatically retrieved from the portal, eliminating the need for employees to repeatedly enter the same information or upload multiple documents.

**Access to healthcare facilities immediately after retirement**
The objective of this new digital system is to ensure that employees do not have to wait long to access healthcare facilities after retirement. The application, verification, and approval processes will be faster than before. Once approved and the prescribed contribution is deposited, pensioners will be able to download their CGHS cards online. This will facilitate easy access to CGHS healthcare services immediately after retirement.

**Boost to digital governance**
The government states that this initiative is a major step towards promoting digital governance and 'Ease of Living.' Integrating the CGHS and Bhavishya portals will not only reduce paperwork but also minimize errors in applications. This will accelerate application processing and save time for employees.

**Existing facilities on the Bhavishya portal**
Several digital services are already available on the Bhavishya portal for retiring employees. Employees can access facilities such as the ePPO, pension slips, Form-16, and life certificates. With the addition of the CGHS pensioner card facility, the portal has now become a unified platform for almost all essential retirement-related services. 

Benefits for Lakhs of Employees
This government initiative will directly benefit the thousands of central government employees who retire each year. It will eliminate the hassle of applying and submitting documents across multiple portals, while making the entire process more transparent and time-bound. Consequently, employees will be able to access healthcare facilities after retirement without unnecessary delays.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from TV9. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.