Cashless Pathology Tests and Medicines on Golden Card for Uttarakhand Employees and Pensioners: A Long-Awaited Initiative

The state of Uttarakhand is gearing up to provide a significant benefit to its more than three lakh employees and pensioners through the introduction of cashless pathology tests and medicines on the Golden Card from October onwards. While the state government has already extended the cashless treatment facility under the State Health Scheme, a demand has emerged among employees and pensioners for broader coverage.

A Long-Awaited Initiative

Currently, cashless treatment is available upon admission, but individuals are requesting that their monthly contributions, deducted from their salaries and pensions, also cover all types of pathology tests and medicines for outpatient treatment. This demand prompted the State Health Authority to propose such an expansion on May 31, with initial plans for implementation in August.

However, the proposal faced delays due to changes in leadership within the State Health Authority, including the resignation of Authority Chairman DK Kotia and the withdrawal of the CEO from Additional Secretary Arunendra Singh Chauhan's post. Nevertheless, the government has now urged the authority to resubmit the proposal, with the envisioned implementation of the cashless facility set for October.

According to Anand Srivastava, CEO of the State Health Authority, minor amendments are required in the proposal, and it is currently being reconsidered at the government level. Once finalized, this initiative will bring much-needed relief to employees and pensioners, ensuring that they can access pathology tests and medicines without financial burdens.

The state's employees have been advocating for this expansion for a considerable duration, and despite reaching a consensus, the matter has remained unresolved between the government and the State Health Authority. As a result, employees have encountered ongoing challenges. The President of the State Employees Joint Council, Arun Pandey, has emphasized the urgency of implementing this facility to alleviate the concerns of the workforce.

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