Chronic diseases in relation to Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) for Railway Pensioners Railway Board Letter No 2006/H/DC/JCM dated 12-10-2006
Chronic diseases in relation to Fixed
Medical Allowance (FMA) for Railway Pensioners
As per Board’s letter No. PC/V/98/I/7/1/1
dated 21-4-99 a fixed medical allowance @ Rs.100/- per month is granted to the
Railway Pensioners/ family Pensioners who are residing beyond 2.5 kms from
Railway Hospital /Health Unit / Dispensary. This fixed medical allowance
is given to meet the day to day medical expenses. They are not entitled
to receive outdoor treatment from Health Unit /Railway Hospital etc. except in
cases of Chronic Diseases.
Arising out of demand in the DC/JCM September,
2006, the definition of Chronic disease and some illness which are to be
treated as Chronic ones are hereby stated.
Any disease which persists for a period of
approximately three months or more is defined as a chronic disease. Some
of the common illness, which are treated as chronic diseases are given below:
1. Arthritis and related conditions
2. Cardiovascular disease
3. Cancer of any part of body
4. Diabetes mellitus
5. Epilepsy disorders
6. Obesity / chronic weight loss
7. Tuberculosis
8. AIDS
9. Oral Health Problem
10. Chronic skin
disorders
Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) to Railway
pensioners and family pensioners who are members of RELHS
Subsequent
to the issue of Board’s letter No. PC-V/98/I/7/1/1 dated 07.02.2008, references
were received from pensioners / family pensioners and banks seeking
clarification as to whether those pensioners/family pensioners who are members
of RELHS and availing OPD facility are also eligible for the Fixed Medical
Allowance.
2. The matter
has been examined and in reference to the Board’s letter dated 07.02.2008 ibid,
it is clarified that since actual enrolment under the Health Scheme is not
mandatory, those pensioners/family pensioners who, in terms of Board’s letter
No. 97/H/28/1 dated 23.10.97, are eligible to become members of the Scheme but
are not actually enrolled are also entitled for grant of Fixed Medical
Allowance. Pensioners/family pensioners who possess RELHS card &
avail OPD facility are NOT entitled for Fixed Medical Allowance, whereas those
who possess RELHS card but do not avail OPD facility [except in cases of
chronic diseases, as defined in Board’s letter No. 2006/H/DC/JCM dated
12.10.2006] are entitled for Fixed Medical Allowance.
3. Further, FMA
and arrears of FMA would continue to be paid, as earlier, to pensioners /family
pensioners only after submission of the enclosed undertaking form to the
Pension Disbursing Authority [PDA] thereby implying that fulfillment of the
following two conditions is mandatory for becoming admissible for FMA:
[i] the pensioner/family pensioner
is residing beyond 2.5 kms from the nearest health unit;
UNDERTAKING FORM
[To be submitted in DUPLICATE by pensioners/family
pensioners to his/her Pension Disbursing Authority [PDA] one copy to be
retained by PDA and other copy to be furnished to Pension Sanctioning Authority
by PDA]
I_____________________________________,
a retired employee /family pensioner whose ___________________ [specify
relation of Family pensioner with deceased Railway employee] was an employee of
[Office address] ____________________ declare that I am residing at
[residential address indicated in PPO] _______________, which is beyond 2.5 Kms
from the nearest Railway hospital / health unit __________________ [Name
of the Hospital /Health Unit as contained in Annexure III to Railway Board’s
letter No. PC-V/98/I/7/1/1 dated 21.4.99].
2. Accordingly, I hereby opt
to claim fixed medical allowance of Rs.100/- per month. Necessary
endorsement may please be made in my PPO in this regard. Simultaneously,
I undertake that I will not avail of OPD facilities at Railway hospitals
/health units from the day I claim Medical Allowance. I also understand
that grant of Medical Allowance is subject to the terms and conditions
specified in Board’s letters No. PC-V/98/I/7/1/1 dated 21.4.99 and 1.3.2004.
3. I also declare that I
have not availed of any treatment as Out Door Patient for the period from
_______________________ [indicate here the date of retirement or the date of
availing OPD facility on the last occasion or 1.12.1997, whichever is later] to
_______________ [indicate here the date on which this declaration is
signed]. I may accordingly be paid arrear of Medical Allowance @
Rs.100/- per month for the period mentioned above.
Signature…………………………..
Name in full………………………..
PPO No…………………………….
Issued
by ………………………….
SB A/c No………………………….
Post office /Bank…………………..
Branch………………………………
Place………………………………..
Date…………………………………
Date…………………………………
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