AMN
The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to expeditiously set up a high-powered committee to disburse Central Government Health Scheme claims within a month. A bench of justices R K Agrawal and Ashok Bhushan also directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to form the panel within seven days.
The court order came on a petition by a retired central government official whose medical bills were not reimbursed as he had taken treatment from private hospitals not included in the empanelled list of CGHS.
The court said the right to medical claim cannot be denied merely because the name of the hospital is not included in the Government Order.
The Apex Court also took note of slow and tardy pace of disposal of Medical Reimbursement Claims, by the CGHS in case of pensioner beneficiaries.
The Court directed that all such claims shall be attended by a Secretary-level High Powered Committee in the concerned Ministry which shall meet every month for quick disposal of such cases.