Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved a wellness centre (an outpatient department dispensary) of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) each in Mangaluru and Udupi, according to Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Replying to an unstarred question by Kota Srinivas Poojary, MP for Udupi-Chikkamgaluru, in the Lok Sabha on July 25, Mr. Jadhav said: “...A proposal for setting up 22 new CGHS Wellness Centres, including three in Karnataka [at Mangaluru, Shivamogga and Udupi] has been recently approved...”
Mr. Jadhav said that the existing norms for opening a new CGHS Wellness Centre, inter alia, include a minimum of 2,500 principal CGHS cardholders or 6,000 CGHS beneficiaries, subject to the availability of resources, suitable accommodations, and creation of posts for medical officers, pharmacists, staff nurses, clerical staff, etc.
The sanction of posts and allocation of funds to open these wellness centres is under the ambit of the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
At present, there are 15 CGHS Wellness Centres, including four AYUSH Centres, functioning in Karnataka. Additionally, one CGHS Polyclinic is operating in Bengaluru.
