Mysore/Mysuru: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has granted permission to create required posts to operate a Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Wellness Centre in Mysuru. 

According to a letter from the Ministry dated June 10, the competent authority has accorded to create 64 posts for 16 new Allopathic CGHS Wellness Centres across the country. Each Centre will have a Medical Officer, Pharmacist, Staff Nurse and a Clerk. 

While the new Centres would come up Mysuru, Ghaziabad, Narela, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Nasik, Aurangabad, Coimbatore and Chandrapur, temporary units functioning in Gwalior, Kannur, Kozhikode, Sonipat, Wadi and Ichhapur would be regularised. 

The letter also directed the Director of CGHS to instruct Additional Directors to take steps for opening new Allopathic Wellness Centres and for the appointment of the newly-created posts. 

The Centre, which functions like a dispensary, would benefit Central Government employees in Mysuru. Presently, a CGHS Centre is in Bengaluru and the Central Government employees and pensioners had to travel all the way to Bengaluru to buy medicines. CGHS has empanelled a set of Private Hospitals where beneficiaries can undergo free treatment.

In emergency situations, the beneficiaries can undergo treatment in Private Hospitals after obtaining a certificate that states that the treatment was obtained due to emergency condition and reimburse the medical charges. 

“I have been pursuing this issue since 35 years” 

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Central Government Pensioners Association (CGPA) President Dr. T.S. Satyanarayana Rao said that finally, after years of struggle, the CGHS Wellness Centre is coming up in Mysuru. “There are over 70,000 Central Govt. pensioners in Mysuru and this Centre will go a long way in ensuring the health of those who are serving and have retired from services,” he said. 

In fact, these Wellness Centres should be sanctioned for every place that has more than 7,000 Central employees and pensioners. “Gradually, we will get more such Centres. The new Centre will benefit employees and pensioners from Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Kodagu,” he added. 

As per the Government directive, the site for the Wellness Centre must be identified immediately. “We have started looking for a place to rent or lease and the authorities from CGHS Wellness Centre, Bengaluru, will visit Mysuru shortly to finalise the location. I have been pursuing this issue along with the office-bearers (past and present) of the Association since 35 years and finally it is becoming a reality,” Dr. Rao added.