Functioning of CGHS Dispensaries

a) Registration Timings: The registration is stopped 15 minutes before scheduled closing time of dispensary. However, no serious patient is returned back unattended in the dispensary.

b) Issue of Medicines: Normally medicines are issued for a period of 15 days. However, in chronic cases CMO (Chief Medical Officer) In-charge may issue medicines up to a maximum period of three months, subject to the conditions as laid down under the provisions of CGHS Act.

c) Daily information regarding non-available items: The Storekeeper in consultation with Dispensary Pharmacist circulates the list of non-available medicines in that particular Dispensary/Hospital. This method is practiced so that the medical officers can prescribe only the medicines that are available to the patients. Similarly arrival of new medicines is incorporated in the list of medicine and the same is circulated by the Pharmacist to all Medical Officers promptly. The inventory pertaining to medicines or drugs is maintained by the Storekeeper of the concerned Dispensary or Hospital.

d) Reports & Returns: The daily visit/turnout of patients at the dispensary is prepared and maintained in a separate register by the clerk in the dispensary. The CMO (Chief Medical Officer) In-charge ensures timely submission of all reports and returns, as per the schedules.

Notice Board in CGHS Dispensary

The notices to be prominently displayed in each CGHS dispensary are enlisted below:-

(a) Bringing of CGHS Token Card during every hospital visit is essential

(b) Dispensary timings

(c) Complaint/Suggestion Book is available with Chief Medical Officer (CMO) In-charge

(d) Details regarding the visiting days and visiting schedules of various specialists

(e) Immunization programmes, well baby clinic and antenatal programmes

(f) Name and telephone numbers of Area Welfare Officer

(g) Important circulars and orders issued by competent authorities from time to time

(i) Name and telephone numbers of the following personnel:-

CMO In-charge

Additional Director

Director (CGHS), New Delhi

Particulars in OPD Prescription

a) The CGHS token number, date and time, name of the patient, age, sex, diagnosis and treatment are written legibly and in full.

b) If the prescription contains more than one medicine, then each medicine or drug is numbered serially.

c) On each subsequent visit, the medicines to be repeated are indicated by their serial numbers.

d) Quantity of medicine to be issued is written clearly.

Domiciliary Visits

All Medical Officers must attend to the domiciliary calls from patients when required and should not be evasive when called for domiciliary visit by the concerned patient. Such attendance or domiciliary visit is restricted to individual cases where the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) In-charge is satisfied on account of its necessity mainly due to the inability of the patient to attend the dispensary on account of being invalid, serious illness, bedridden or old-age. Domiciliary visits are usually made before or after the official dispensary working hours with the exception of medical emergencies. Such home visits requested during the official working hours is made by the Medical Officers receiving the call and the same is not assigned or delegated to the doctor on emergency duty. In case, if a domiciliary visit becomes essential during the official working hours, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) In-charge is kept informed so as to ensure that, as far as possible not more than one Medical Officer (MO) is absent from the dispensary at anyone time during those working hours. It is mandatory that all relevant entries pertaining to domiciliary visits by the Medical Officers must be made in the register and signed by him/her before leaving the dispensary for the proposed home-visit. It must be noted that the Lady Doctors are exempted from paying domiciliary visits during 7.30 P.M. to 7.00 A.M.

Services

Out patient department (OPD) care through network of dispensaries

Supply of necessary drugs and medicines

Laboratory services

Domiciliary visits

Hospitalization facilities at Government recognized hospitals and private hospitals specially recognized for the purpose

Specialist consultation at CGHS units and Government recognized hospitals

Immunization

Ante-natal and post-natal services

Limited Medical Emergency treatments

Supply of various appliances like pacemaker, hearing aids, orthopedic appliances, nebulizer etc

Family welfare services for eg. Family Planning Programmes and Health Education

Services of Ayurvedic, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy systems of medicine

Complaints and Grievances

The committee meets every 2^nd Saturday of the month and looks into the following matters as given below:-

a) Open the complaint box/register and study the grievances/suggestions put in the box/register

b) Incase, if need arises the complainant is called in one of the meetings to sort out the grievances of the CGHS beneficiary.

c) The committee suggests the ways and methods to improve the functioning of the CGHS dispensary within the available resources.

d) To liaise with the different agencies involved in the supportive services for the maintenance of the CGHS dispensaries.