Employees JAC recommends major changes to EHS

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The Telangana Employees, Teachers and Pensioners Joint Action Committee (JAC) has urged the state government to introduce key reforms in the Employees' Health Scheme (EHS) and the proposed Employee Health Care Trust to ensure transparency, fairness and financial sustainability.

In a representation submitted to the Chief Secretary, the JAC welcomed the government's initiative to strengthen healthcare services for employees, teachers and pensioners. However, it requested the government to make public the complete EHS guidelines, empanelled hospital list, treatment packages, coverage details and beneficiary rights before enrolling employees in the scheme.

The JAC suggested that employee contributions and the government's matching share be credited directly to the Health Care Trust account to facilitate timely settlement of hospital claims and ensure uninterrupted cashless treatment for beneficiaries.

The committee also proposed adopting a three-tier contribution system on the lines of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). It recommended separate contribution slabs for non-gazetted employees, gazetted employees and those opting for enhanced benefits.

Expressing concern over the proposed deduction of 1.5 percent of basic pay, the JAC said the formula places a heavier burden on senior employees who often have fewer eligible family members. It instead advocated a family-based contribution model under which payments would be linked to the number of beneficiaries covered, subject to a reasonable ceiling.

The JAC said the suggested reforms would improve accountability, strengthen the financial viability of the scheme and provide equitable healthcare coverage to employees, teachers, pensioners and their families.