Free Treatment For Railway Employees: Good news for 37 lakh railway employees, pensioners...

Indian Railways has made a significant change in the health care policy for its employees, pensioners, and their dependents. Railways will now issue Unique Medical Identification (UMID) cards to all its employees, their dependents, and pensioners, through which they will be able to get free treatment in hospitals included in the Railways' panel and all All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the country. This card will be made for Rs 100. This new system will benefit about 12.5 lakh employees, more than 15 lakh pensioners, and about 10 lakh dependents from the Railways.

This decision has been taken after complaints from employees and pensioners alleging that doctors issue referrals for their preferred hospitals. Under the new policy, treatment will now be possible without referral. This will provide them with medical facilities without any hindrance and will also resolve complaints related to doctors' referrals. No referral will be required for treatment in national institutes like PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, NIMHANS Bangalore, and 25 AIIMS in the country. Not only treatment but also essential medicines will be provided in these institutions.

The decision came into effect with immediate effect
Railway Board Executive Director (Transformation) Pranav Kumar Malik on Monday ordered the issuance of Unique Medical Identification (UMID) cards. This decision has come into effect with immediate effect. The UMID card will be kept in DigiLocker through the Health Management Information System (HMIS). It will also be available on the profile of employees-pensioners.

Through this card, employees, pensioners, or dependents will be able to get treatment in any hospital or diagnostic center included in the panel of Railways. This card can be used for emergency or general treatment. If someone does not have a UMID card, their UMID number will also be valid for treatment. Under special circumstances, referrals will be issued for some hospitals, which will be valid for 30 days.