For sixty years, the Central Government Health Scheme has been providing extensive medical care to Central Government employees and pensioners registered under the CGHS scheme. CGHS effectively addresses the healthcare needs of eligible beneficiaries across all four pillars of India’s democratic framework: the legislature, the judiciary, the executive and the press.

It serves as a model healthcare provider for central government employees and retirees, distinguished by its large beneficiary base and open and generous approach to healthcare provision. Currently, approximately 4.6 million beneficiaries are served by CGHS in 80 cities around the world. Indiawith continued efforts to expand the program to other cities to improve accessibility of services.

CGHS provides health care through the following systems of medicine:

*Allopathic

* Homeopathic

*Indian system of medicine

* Ayurveda

*Unani

* Siddha and

*Yoga

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How to have a CGHS card made?

All central government beneficiaries Health (CGHS) and their dependents are issued individual plastic photo identification cards, each containing a unique beneficiary identification number. This card must be presented at each service point to access the available facilities. Eligible active and retired employees must submit an application using the prescribed form, which can be obtained from the CGHS portal, CGHS website and wellness centers. The form must be completed in full, with individual photographs affixed according to the instructions provided.

Retirees can obtain their CGHS card from the office of the Additional Director of the city where the beneficiary resides. The forms can be downloaded from the CGHS website, cghs.gov.in. Forms are also available at the city additional director’s office (additional director’s office in case of Delhi).

Required documents:

1. Application in prescribed format

2. Proof of residence

3. Proof of residence of dependents

4. Proof of age of son

5. Disability certificate, if applicable in the case of sons aged 25 years and above, who would otherwise cease to be beneficiaries.

6. Individual passport-sized photos of eligible family members

7. Return the CGHS card certificate during its service (only in cases where the CGHS card was issued during its service), if applicable.

8. Self-certified copies of Pension Payment order (PPO) and final payment certificate (LPC).

9. CGHS contribution from Central Government Pensioners for creation of CGHS cards should be deposited only through Bharatkosh portal. Once the payment is successful, the receipt and challan generated online through Bharatkosh will be retained by the beneficiary as proof of payment. They must be dropped off at the Addl office. Director of CGHS as well as the relevant documents for the issuance of the CGHS card.

10. The data is uploaded to the Office of the Additional Director, CGHS on the CGHS portal and a printout is published for immediate use.

The plastic cards are sent to the Wellness Centers and the beneficiaries can collect the cards there.

An SMS is sent to the beneficiaries’ mobile number reminding them to collect their plastic cards.

Serving employees: Serving employees must submit the forms in the prescribed format attaching photographs of eligible family members and submit them to the ministry/department/office where they are working. The application form is forwarded by the Ministry/Office/Department to the office of the Additional Director CGHS of the city for preparation of the card. Plastic cards are distributed in Wellness Centers and for retirees. SMS messages are also sent to the mobile number of employees on duty.

Can I print my own CGHS card?

Yes, the facility to print your own card is available to all CGHS beneficiaries by visiting the CGHS portal cghs.gov.in. A color print of the card can be made and laminated for use as a plastic card. The CGHS services can also be used by showing the printout of the form, which is issued on the day the application is submitted.