The Zonal Advisory Committee (ZAC) Meeting of CGHS, Bhubaneswar was held on 24 September 2026

 

𝗖𝗚𝗛𝗦 𝗭𝗔𝗖 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 — 𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦’ 𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦

Dear Comrades,

The Zonal Advisory Committee (ZAC) Meeting of CGHS, Bhubaneswar was held today, 24 September 2026, in the Conference Hall of the Additional Director, CGHS, Bhubaneswar, to discuss the problems of CGHS Wellness Centres, beneficiaries and Health Care Organisations (HCOs).

Representing the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers, Odisha State CoC and the All India Postal & RMS Pensioners’ Association, Bhubaneswar, I attended the meeting along with Com. Shyama Sunder Sahoo, Com. Dipti Ranjan Mohanty, Com. Lingaraj Sahoo and Com. Sudhir Kumar Swain. Representatives from BSNL, AG and other Central Government Departments also participated.

🔴 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗥 𝗭𝗔𝗖 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 & 𝗗𝗨𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘

At the very outset, I strongly objected to convening such an important meeting at very short notice. Transparency, consultation and accountability cannot be occasional exercises.

📌 We demanded that ZAC meetings must be held regularly with due and timely intimation to all members, enabling them to properly place the grievances of beneficiaries. The demand was accepted.

𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗘𝗦 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗘𝗗 & 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗

🏥 1️⃣ RENOVATION OF WELLNESS CENTRE–III

The required CPWD survey and Budget Estimate have reportedly been completed. Funds are available with the Additional Director, who is empowered to approve the scheduled works.

🔹 After receipt of the estimates, Civil and Electrical works will be initiated, including improvement of the outside road and parking facilities.

⚡ 2️⃣ UPS FOR WELLNESS CENTRE–III

The installation of UPS in WC–III is expected within three weeks.

🔋 3️⃣ GENERATORS FOR WELLNESS CENTRES

The generator issue of WC–I has been resolved.

📌 Our demand for generators for the other two Wellness Centres was also accepted, with follow-up action to be taken by the Additional Director.

🏛️ 4️⃣ CONSTITUTION OF ZAC & LACs

It was agreed to constitute the Zonal Advisory Committee (ZAC) and Local Advisory Committees (LACs) at the earliest, with priority.

👥 5️⃣ FILLING UP OF VACANT POSTS

As informed in the meeting, action has already been initiated to fill vacant posts, including engagement of contractual workers wherever necessary.

💡 6️⃣ LED LIGHTS & GLOW-SIGN BOARDS

All Wellness Centres, including the Ayurvedic Centre, will be provided with LED lighting and glow-sign boards for better visibility and convenience.

🌿 7️⃣ PHARMACIST AT AYURVEDIC CENTRE

The posting of a Pharmacist at the Ayurvedic Centre is being pursued in view of the court case filed by the newly appointed candidate. The matter will be followed up.

💊 8️⃣ DELAY IN SUPPLY OF INDENTED MEDICINES

The serious delay in supplying medicines through the local chemist was strongly objected to by all participants.

📌 The Additional Director and doctors also acknowledged the problem.

📌 We strongly demanded change of the present supplier and streamlining of the medicine-supply system.

✅ Action for changing the supplier was assured.

💊 9️⃣ MEDICINES PRESCRIBED BY GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL SPECIALISTS

We strongly stressed that medicines prescribed by specialists of Government hospitals must be supplied to beneficiaries.

📌 If the exact prescribed medicine is unavailable, the actual branded medicine having the same composition should be supplied.

✅ This was agreed to.

💉 🔟 HIGH-VALUE LIFE-SAVING MEDICINES

An important clarification was made regarding high-value life-saving medicines.

📌 The Additional Director is now empowered to approve such medicines locally, provided they are prescribed by specialists of Government hospitals.

📌 There is no need to send such cases to Delhi.

👉 This important information should reach every CGHS beneficiary.

🏥 1️⃣1️⃣ PROBLEMS WITH HCOs — NO HARASSMENT OF BENEFICIARIES

The problems faced by beneficiaries in different Health Care Organisations (HCOs) were discussed seriously. Representatives of Utkal, Kalinga and other HCOs participated.

⚠️ Several difficulties were highlighted, including:

🔹 OTP-related problems

🔹 Emergency admission issues

🔹 Misguidance of beneficiaries

🔹 Avoidance of consultation with doctors on CGHS-related matters

🔹 Lack of awareness among frontline staff regarding updated CGHS procedures

📌 We strongly demanded that beneficiaries, particularly elderly pensioners, must not be made to suffer because of procedural deficiencies or lack of awareness among frontline staff.

🤝 We demanded a separate meeting with the HCOs to discuss these problems comprehensively.

✅ The proposal was accepted.

📜 The Additional Director also agreed to issue necessary circulars to all HCOs directing them to properly train their frontline staff regarding updated CGHS procedures.

📌 Copies of such circulars will also be endorsed to the ZAC and LAC members.

𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬

Today’s meeting once again demonstrated the importance of collective representation, persistent follow-up and organised intervention.

Problems do not disappear merely because they are recorded in files. They require continuous monitoring, follow-up and accountability.

👴👵 For pensioners, many of whom are elderly and dependent upon CGHS for essential healthcare, timely medicines, functional Wellness Centres, adequate manpower, emergency treatment and respectful service are not favours or privileges. They are legitimate healthcare entitlements.

🙏 OUR SINCERE THANKS

We place on record our sincere thanks to the Additional Director, CGHS, Bhubaneswar, participating doctors, officers and staff, as well as representatives of different departments and HCOs, for the healthy, frank and interactive discussions and for the assurances given on the issues raised.

🙏 Our heartfelt thanks also go to all Comrades and pensioners who continuously bring genuine problems to our notice. Their confidence strengthens our collective voice.

✊ THE MEETING IS OVER — BUT THE STRUGGLE FOR BETTER CGHS SERVICES CONTINUES!

🔴 RAISE THE GRIEVANCE.

✊ ORGANISE THE VOICE.

📢 FOLLOW UP THE ASSURANCE.

⚖️ DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY.

❤️ FOR THE DIGNITY, HEALTHCARE AND RIGHTS OF EVERY CGHS BENEFICIARY.

— Bruhaspati Samal
General Secretary
Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers
Odisha State CoC

#CGHS #CGHSBeneficiaries #PensionersRights #HealthcareRights #CGHSWellnessCentres #Accountability #PensionersUnity #Confederation #Odisha #CollectiveStruggle #RaiseYourVoice #HealthIsARight