4 days ago
Officials Resist Mandatory Aadhaar Linkage for CGHS Benefits
The government health system for central employees is called CGHS.
Officials have repeatedly tried to connect CGHS records with Aadhaar-based health accounts.
Some government employees and officials objected to making this compulsory.
The latest order was paused in July 2024.
Supporters of the exemption say CGHS is partly paid for by its members and is not a normal welfare programme.
Critics say most of its money actually comes from the government.
They also say old pensioner and dependent records are not checked often enough.
Other schemes have made Aadhaar connections mandatory, but CGHS has not done so.
This may make CGHS more expensive and could allow improper use of benefits.
Central government employees can currently use CGHS without mandatory Aadhaar integration, despite repeated government directives.
Authorities withdrew the latest linkage order in July 2024, placing it in abeyance until further orders.
Officials argue CGHS is contributory rather than a welfare scheme operating through Direct Benefit Transfers.
About 90% of CGHS spending reportedly comes from the Consolidated Fund of India, with employees paying a smaller share.
Unlike ECHS and the Railway Health Scheme, CGHS lacks regular identity checks, raising concerns about inactive or fraudulent accounts.
- Who
- Central government employees, pensioners, dependents and other CGHS beneficiaries, along with government officials overseeing the scheme.
- What
- Repeated attempts to require Aadhaar-based linkage of CGHS beneficiary records have been withdrawn or suspended.
- Where
- The issue concerns the Central Government Health Scheme in India, including accredited journalists based in Delhi.
- When
- The latest directive was placed in abeyance in July 2024; similar attempts began in June 2015.
- Why
- Officials cite CGHS’s contributory structure, while critics seek stronger identity verification and controls over public spending.
Exemption Supporters
Mandatory Linkage Advocates
Nature of CGHS
Exemption Supporters
Officials argue that CGHS is a contributory arrangement rather than a traditional welfare scheme funded through Direct Benefit Transfer.
Mandatory Linkage Advocates
Critics point to the reported government contribution of about 90% of CGHS spending and argue that public funding justifies stronger controls.
Aadhaar requirement
Exemption Supporters
Internal resistance has supported keeping Aadhaar integration voluntary for central government employees and other CGHS beneficiaries.
Mandatory Linkage Advocates
Advocates of integration cite the ECHS and Railway Health Scheme as examples where mandatory Aadhaar linkage has been implemented.
Account verification
Exemption Supporters
The reports describe no specific defense of CGHS’s lack of annual verification checks.
Mandatory Linkage Advocates
Critics warn that continuously active pensioner cards and unverified dependents could enable fraud or unauthorized use and contribute to higher per-capita costs.
Key facts
- Scheme
- Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)
- Latest directive
- A requirement to link CGHS beneficiary IDs with Ayushman Bharat Health Account IDs created through Aadhaar
- Latest status
- Placed in abeyance until further orders in July 2024
- Government funding
- Approximately 90% of CGHS spending reportedly comes from the Consolidated Fund of India
- Verification gap
- CGHS reportedly does not conduct annual checks for deceased pensioners or ineligible dependents
- Comparable schemes
- The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme and Railway Health Scheme have made Aadhaar linkage mandatory
- Beneficiaries
- Active and retired central employees, family members, current and former MPs, sitting and retired Supreme Court and High Court judges, and accredited journalists in Delhi
Sources
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