Payment of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) in Indian Railways
Fixed Medical Allowance in Railway Healthcare System
The grant of Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) is intended to meet expenditures on day-to-day medical expenses that do not require hospitalization. If the residence of the retiring employee is beyond 2.5 Kms of the Railway Hospital / Health Unit, the employee can opt for either OutPatient Medical Facility or Fixed Medical Allowance of Rs.1,000/- per month (Revised time to time). If the residence is within 2.5 kms of the Railway Hospital/Health Unit, the employees could opt only for an Out-Patient medical facility. In case of those opting for FMA are also eligible for OPD for Chronic disease.
Payment of FMA shall be made to the Pensioner by Pension disbursing authority along with Pension/family pension on monthly basis. Fixed Medical Allowances are also allowed to Railway Beneficiaries of the National Pension System (NPS).
Admissibility of Fixed Medical Allowance for Retired Railway Employees
- Fixed Medical Allowance shall be granted to those Railway pensioner/family pensioners who are residing beyond 2.5 KMs from the nearest Railway Hospital/health unit if they do not avail of OPD facility at Railway hospitals/health units.
- This fixed medical allowance is given to meet the day-to-day medical expenses.
- The beneficiaries are not entitled to receive outdoor (OPD)treatment from Health Unit /Railway Hospital etc. except in cases of Chronic Diseases. Some of the common illnesses, which are treated as chronic diseases are given below:
- Arthritis and related conditions
- Cardiovascular disease
- Cancer of any part of the body
- Diabetes mellitus
- Epilepsy disorders
- Obesity / chronic weight loss
- Tuberculosis
- AIDS
- Oral Health Problem
- Chronic skin disorders
