Here is good news for Central government pensioners. Full-fledged online appointment has been restored at the CGHS Wellness Centre, located on the premises of the Government Hospital for Mental Care, with effect from April 16, according to T.K. Bhagavanudu, CGHS cardholder and pensioner, who has been fighting for the cause since long.
It may be recalled that the problems of pensioners visiting the CGHS Centre was highlighted in these columns on the headline: “All is not well with Wellness Centre” (Health Watch, March 30, 2018). The problems in accessing the online system for taking appointments was forcing CGHS cardholders, a majority of whom are pensioners, who had retired long ago, to make it to the dispensary before daybreak and await their turn under trees for it open after 8 a.m.
Mr. Bhagavanudu had also raised the issues of inadequacy of doctors and non-availability of drugs at the wellness centre. “I was successful in getting an online appointment on April 16 and on the next day I was able to book an appointment for my wife. Full-fledged online appointment is crucial to save senior citizens from waiting for long hours in queues without food and medicine,” he says.He acknowledged the contribution of All Central Government Employees Pensioners Association leaders KBR Prasad, J. Janardhana Rao and GSN Murthy in his struggle for the revival of the online system.
B. Madhu Gopal
