Reply by Government on the pending medical bills of BSNL Pensioners to the question raised by Com P. R. Natarajan, MP in Lok Sabha*

GOVERNMENT OF INDIAMINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONSLOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1762

ANSWERED ON: 27.07.2022 **BSNL Pensioners*

*P.R. Natarajan* Will the Minister ofCOMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:-(a) whether the Government is aware that the BSNL Pensioners and serving staff are being deprived from getting cashless medical treatment even for chronic diseases and monthly medical allowances in liu of out-door treatment from the year 2018 on the plea of shortage of funds allocation from BSNL;

(b) if so, the details of number of such pending medical bills due for payment and the year from which medical allowance is pending;

(c) the details of required amount for the clearance of pending bills and medical allowance as on 30.06.2022; and(d) the details of the decision taken in this regard?

*ANSWER* MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS(SHRI DEVUSINH CHAUHAN)

(a)&(b) BSNL Pensioners and serving staff are not deprived from getting medical treatment. However, medical bills worth Rs. 367 Crores are pending for clearance from 1st January, 2019 onwards with reference to retired employees which includes outdoor treatment, indoor treatment and medical allowance.(c) As on 30.06.2022, Rs. 367 Crores is required for clearance of pending medical liability of retired employees, which could not be cleared due to financial stress in BSNL.

(d) BSNL is making efforts to clear the liability on availability of sufficient cash flow. Additionally, Government has decided that BSNL pensioners who had deposited CGHS contribution before switching over to the health scheme of BSNL and are desirous of switching over again to CGHS are entitled for CGHS facility as per Office Memorandum dated 06.04.2022 of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

1Thuraivan NG