CGHS Card: Big news for central government employees. If you are a central government employee and CGHS money is deducted from your salary every month, But if you have not yet applied for a CGHS card, you are still entitled to all the health benefits of this scheme. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has made it clear that no employee can be barred from availing CGHS benefits just because of not filling the form.
In an office memorandum issued on 7 April 2025, the ministry has said that CGHS cards must be issued to those employees whose monthly CGHS contribution is being deducted from their salary. This instruction has been issued specifically for the employees of CPWD. If an employee does not apply despite repeated information, his case should be immediately sent to senior officials.
The ministry has also said that if CGHS money is being deducted from the salary, then the responsibility of not getting the card lies with the office and not with the employee. The administrative branch should start the process of making the card in collaboration with the accounts section. This means that even if the employee has not filled the form, but if money is being deducted from his salary, then he will be considered a member of the scheme.
How to get CGHS card
Employees who are in service should fill the prescribed form, attach their and their family’s photos and submit it to their office. After this, the office sends it to the CGHS office, from where the card is made and given through the Wellness Center. As soon as the card is made, an SMS is received on the employee’s mobile. Apart from this, if the employee wants, he can also download the card from the CGHS website cghs.gov.in and take a color printout, laminate it and use it.
The government has also said that linking ABHA ID to CGHS is not mandatory now, but it may be beneficial in the future. This decision ensures that no eligible government employee is deprived of CGHS benefits due to technical reasons only.